Every birthing person should strongly consider a doula. For me, having a doula’s support throughout pregnancy, labor and beyond, made all the difference in my experience. Kristina is so knowledgeable and wise and helped me confidently make tough decisions during my pregnancy. She listened to my concerns and wishes and held space for me to express myself and work through all of my thoughts and feelings. It was so amazing to be able to reach out to her for support and advice whenever I needed it. She was a constant lifeline. She gave me so many resources so I could make educated decisions and feel confident and strong about my pregnancy, birth plan and choosing the right health care providers. She gave me resources about baby positioning and exercises for comfort measures and to prepare for labor, showed me how to make a comprehensive, informed birth plan, created positive affirmations for me to practice, gave me books to read, and held my hand in so many ways to prepare us for this incredible life transition. Towards the very end of my pregnancy I decided to switch from a hospital to a home birth and I don’t think I could have made that decision without her guiding me to helpful resources and giving me confidence to birth on my terms. I LOVED having her on our birth team and was so grateful for her calm, grounding energy during my labor. She was there for me physically, emotionally and mentally every step of the way. We had a beautiful home birth experience and I attribute much of that to her role in our preparation. I was grateful for how she helped my husband know how to support me and how well she worked with the other midwives on our team. I feel like we had the BEST care. I felt safe, validated, and cared for in every way. I’m so grateful for Kristina—my doula and friend!