Nurture the Mother

WHAT FAMILIES SAY - Testimonials

POSTPARTUM SUPPORT 2008 ~ TWINS
"When we came home from the hospital with our twin daughters, Nancy was there to meet us.  She gave us much-needed emotional and practical support that night and throughout the following weeks of new, scary, and wonderful experiences:  a third set of hands to do all that needed to be done while I learned to breastfeed successfully, going with us to routine doctors' appointments and to the hospital during a medical crisis, and then, once the girls' grandma went back home, coming regularly to help feed, hold, love, and care for our girls so that I could have a little time to eat and sleep between constant feedings. We decided to continue having Nancy come beyond the newborn period to help while my husband worked on his master's thesis in the midst of the chaos of infant twins.

Our girls are now three years old.  We stay in touch with Nancy and the girls are always really excited when she visits.  She's one of their favorite people in the world.  I truly think they are the happy kids that they are in large part to the support their parents got, and the love and care that they received from Nancy, during the crucial first year of their lives." ~ H.H.

POSTPARTUM SUPPORT 2008 ~ TWINS

Three weeks into our time with newborn twins, when our family had left and we were a little panicky, we got onto the Green River Doula website to see if we could find a post-partum doula.  We chose Nancy because she recognized in her statement the vital importance of sleep to a mother’s bonding with her babies.  She appeared at 10 pm one fine night, we handed our girls over to her without even asking for a reference – that’s how tired we were – and the non-nursing mom got a complete night’s sleep for the first time in three weeks, while the nursing mom nursed and handed off the babies during the night.  Nancy took great care of the babies, but also of the nursing mom, bringing healthy snacks, and serving as a supportive, knowledgeable, and non-doctrinaire lactation coach.  A lot of what we know about taking care of two babies at once we learned from Nancy: she helped us get the right gear, spent a lot of time with both babies napping on her in a Moby wrap, showed us how to bathe and soothe them.  She became a beloved friend and resource over those first months, and now, three years later, we remain in touch and love showing off our grown-up girls to her.  She is gentle and loving, and helping mothers and babies bond is truly her vocation.

~ Liz Garland and Judy Frank

BIRTH SUPPORT 2009 AND 2011

Nancy helped bring my second and third babies – both girls – into the world. She was a wonderful, warm and strong support to both my husband and me. While there is no doubt that the birth of my first child was a remarkable experience, it differed quite a bit from the births of my second and third babies, largely because of Nancy’s support. I was apprehensive going into my second birth because my first experience felt very “medical” and I suffered from a difficult recovery. I was determined to try a natural birth for my second child. Because I knew I could rely on Nancy’s experience and her unflappable patience, I felt that I could be completely myself and that she would adapt to help me. After a short labor, my second child came into the world in a rush of energy and peace. The moment of her birth and taking her into my arms for the first time is simply indescribable. I can’t imagine a more perfect or empowering birthing experience. Nancy knew how to be there when I needed her, but she also knew how and when to step back and to provide support behind the scenes depending on how things evolved from moment to moment. She supported what was an unexpectedly intimate experience for my husband and me, in fact helping it to be more intimate by working both proactively and invisibly to anticipate our needs. She truly became part of the natural birthing process. She also protected us immediately after the birth by securing our privacy and enabling us to hold our baby uninterrupted for a couple of hours. We did not hesitate to ask her to assist us again for the birth of our third child, who came into the world VERY quickly and with a determined force. Nancy helped her to enter the world in as seamless a way as possible, and my baby nursed immediately and was completely contented within seconds of birth. Both girls feel strong, rooted, and secure to me, and I think this stems partly from their natural and loving birthing experiences, which Nancy helped to make possible. ~ J.D.

POSTPARTUM SUPPORT, 2009

A few weeks before my due date with my second child, a friend suggested I call Nancy. This friend knew that my first child had been a high-needs, colicky infant and that I was worried about the possibility of another tough postpartum period. After speaking with Nancy on the phone, I knew I wanted her help and support during the first few weeks after my second child’s birth, especially because all of our family lives very far away. She helped me in so many ways, I can’t possibly list them all. Her presence was indispensable, for me, my husband, my two-year-old (who adored Nancy), and my newborn. At one point, she recognized in me some signs of post-partum depression and anxiety and directed me to the appropriate resources, and for that I am beyond grateful.

When Nancy was around, I felt so supported, so cared for, and so nurtured, that I was able to regain my confidence as a mother and take on the challenge of mothering a newborn and a toddler. I will never forget just how much she affected me and how crucial those hours were that she spent with us. Thank you, Nancy! ~ J.L.

BIRTH AND POSTPARTUM SUPPORT, 2008 and 2011

Nancy has assisted my family in the birth and post partum time for two of our three children. We think she is a Goddess of Birthing and Babies! She is patient, wise, compassionate, loving, steady, strong, knowledgeable and professional. Her invaluable support during labor made it possible for me to realize my dream, during my third labor, of a medication-free water birth. In her role as a post partum doula, her presence, care for my older children and tenderness with me and the new baby, made challenging early days much easier. Every time I have a pregnant friend, I recommend Nancy. I simply cannot say enough about her skills and presence. When I called her early in my third labor, anxious, she reflected back to me my birthing visions and goals, keeping me focused on what I had shared with her for my hopes during that labor and birth. I feel grateful to know her and to have benefited from her gifts as a doula. She is a lovely, warm, and kind woman, but more than that, has a calling to her work and does it with excellence. SW

BIRTH SUPPORT, 2008 and 2011
Nancy is incredibly adaptable. From tea recommendations to suggestions for labor positions to the latest articles on group B strep to the amazing photos she took of both of our babies as they were born, our birth experiences were better for her being there. She brings the experience of a grandmother, comfort of a close friend, and knowledge of a medical professional to her work. We are so fortunate to have had her as our doula with both of our children and to know she is still there if we need her.
 L.M. and R.E.

BIRTH SUPPORT, 2009

There were some unexpected difficulties during my labor and delivery, but through it all Nancy was amazing. Her calm energy and stalwart presence (plus her wonderful warmth and sense of humor!) were absolutely crucial. My daughter was born in a bit of distress and after she was stabilized, the doctors wanted to whisk her away to the nursery for observation, but Nancy convinced them to let me hold her for a moment first.  I will be forever grateful for her advocacy!"  A.N.

BIRTH SUPPORT 2009 and 2011

Just a few hours after we met Nancy and decided to work with her, my water broke.  This was about 6 weeks before my due date, and it was a complete surprise.  All of a sudden we had to change everything—we couldn’t deliver with the midwives we’d been seeing, we had to go to a different hospital than we’d been planning on, and we were not only going to be first-time parents, but first-time parents to a preemie.  Although we had only just met, we called Nancy and she came to the hospital right away to be with us.  I didn’t end up going into labor on my own, so we faced choice after choice on how and when to deliver the baby.  Nancy stayed with us through it all, helping us weigh the facts and make the best possible decisions.  It seemed like each doctor we spoke with had a different idea as to what was best, and Nancy was a tireless advocate on our behalf.  She provided invaluable emotional support to my partner and I, through what turned out to be a very long and scary labor induction.  She was in the hospital with us for a whole work week—Monday to Friday—until I delivered!  I don’t think I would have been able to have had a vaginal delivery without all her help and support, and I am so grateful.  And when the inevitable preemie breastfeeding issues came up, Nancy was right by my side again.  I cannot imagine having gone through my son’s labor without Nancy.  We’re due again this summer, and we’re thrilled to work with her again.  Nancy is a calm, warm presence with great intelligence and a wonderful sense of humor.  We cannot recommend her highly enough.  ~ A.W. & J.W.