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“As doulas, one of our most valuable services is to restore to our clients a sense of control-of choice. As a woman approaches birth, she may feel she has no choices left. Her body makes choices for her. However, our clients DO have choices in their birthing process, and it is our role as doulas to make them aware of those choices. The feeling of control such choices bring, empowers the woman, making birth a positive force in her life. A doula can be a wonderful tool, helping clients during their pregnancy, birth and postpartum gain a semblance of control over their bodies and their emotions, enhancing their experience.”- Cheri B. Grant, RNC, CD (DONA)

It is First Coast Doulas intent to serve pregnant women by informing them of resources they may need, to have a positive birth experience. We hope the information provided has given each woman the insight she may need to pursue her ideal birth.

INQUIRE ABOUT OUR "BIRTH" DAY MOVIES!!

We can turn your photographs into a special memory with music, words and sound; viewable in DVD format. We also provide these services for other occassions, events or circumstances. Call Sarah at 904-389-3433 for more details.
OUR CURRENT PROJECT!!!


Dearest Friends and Family,

My niece needs a medical treatment only provided in China, our family is banning together to raise funds to do this for her. Please consider reposting the following information and adopting Rylee this holiday season.

Personally, we will be forgoing our traditional Christmas and all gifts will be made in the form of a donation to help Rylee this year. Additionally, all proceeds I personally make from my Shaklee sales from now until March will be donated to Rylee. Further, any proceeds I make through First Coast Doulas in the same time period will also go to help Rylee.

It is our belief that our heroes and mentors should be everyday people that make a big difference with their heart and hard work....So, we ask with the utmost sincerity that each of you consider being a hero and being a part of a true life miracle by donating to this very special person.

Many, many heartfelt wishes for a season filled with giving.

With love,
Sarah Lovett

Below are the details of where/when and how you can donate to Rylee:

http://www.blessherwithsight.com
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< Mandy,

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT US!

 

Crackow Birth

 

Sarah,

 

It is so hard to put into words the magnitude of appreciation I have towards you.  Since having you as a doula for my second birth, in comparison, I truly feel as though I did an injustice to my first birth by not having a doula.  There was a world of difference in both birth experiences.  Although my first birth was jaundice, but healthy - I know now that I could have had a different birth experience with all the knowledge you gave me.  Having you and my husband my side encouraged me, but you -specifically as a fellow woman, empowered me.  You gave me the confidence I needed to know that I could as I desired so, without a doubt, deliver a baby unmedicated.  How awesome is that!  That's just the way God intended it for me and I am thankful that He put you in my life to help me.  Although, you were pregnant as well at the time, you knew all kinds of techniques and methods to really help me to progress in labor and comfort me during contractions.  You also gave me strength and encouragement to overcome all the obstacles we faced with the doctor (thank you).  You were so calm and comforting and made every effort to allow me to have the best birth experience I could have had.  I will continue to sing your praises as I really recommend to any pregnant woman - please, please, consider a doula.  I really thought I was prepared because I took the classes and read the books for my first birth - but I truly was disillusioned.  I know now that I don't have to have a typical hospital birth with all kinds of interventions to deliver a healthy baby. 

 

Although I would love to give all the dramatic and not so dramatic details of my birth experience to help urge potential clients to seek doula services, I will refrain from doing so in letter format.  However, if you ever need me talk to others to share my story.  You know I would love it.

 I hope you know that I think you are an exceptional doula, but most of all you are a wonderful friend.  Emma will always hear good things about the special woman that helped here mommy on the amazing day she was born.

 

Thank you from the bottom of my heart,

Zenaida

 

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Housley Birth

 

Dear Susan,

 

I just wanted to take a minute and let you know how much I appreciate you and how wonderful were to my birth experience as my doula. 

 

I didn't have a doula for the birth of my first child, and I remember feeling scared and not in control of my labor and delivery.  Before I delivered my first child, I thought I would be able to do it on my own.  I had read quite a bit of material and thought I knew exactly what and how I wanted my labor to be.  Once that I was in labor, I quickly found myself doubting all the knowledge that I had gained by listening to the nurses and doctors.  I quickly found pitocin hooked up to my arm, then my water being broken, and pain that I wasn't able to manage due to my overall state of mind.  Although I had a healthy baby, it was not the labor that I had planned and imagined.

   

We are very fortunate to have you to assist and coach me on the birth for our second child.  What a difference! I went in feeling more confident about wanting to manage my labor and not let the doctors manage it for me.  We again found ourselves in a situation where the doctors were trying to convince me that my plan was now harming my baby.  You helped me to ask for time from the doctors to let me try to progress "naturally" with labor for two hours and then we would see where we were at.  I don't know that I would have had the sense or courage to negotiate the time, if you hadn't have been there.  I just felt secure with you there, and knew that you would help me to know if I was really in trouble.  When the pain became bad for me, you helped me with techniques to find a way to manage it.  I never knew how strong I could be.  You helped me to not fear the pain, like I know that I did in my first labor.  When I found a way to cope with it I realized that the lack of fear helped me to manage the pain better.

   

Your interactions with the hospital staff was greatly appreciated too.  I really felt like the nurses were thankful that you were right there looking after me, so that it made their job easier and less stressful.  I know that they had confidence in you too, which again, reassured me that we could manage this labor just fine.  I think that by using a doula, hospital staff and doctors have help and also know that the patient has an advocate, so they can't scare them with information that isn't true.  When I delivered my first child, I didn't hold him immediately.  They whisked him away to take his vitals and cleaned him and then brought him to me.  They didn't offer to do anything different.  With the birth of me second, I was asked if I wanted to hold her immediately after she was born.  I think the hospital staff treated me better because they knew I had an advocate for me.  Being able to hold her immediately after I was born, was a storybook moment, and because of you, it was possible.

 

Susan, I couldn't have done this without you.  I have a beautiful daughter that you helped to bring into this world.  I will never think of her birth and not remember what an asset you were to have there for me.  I wish that more women understood what doulas are and how much better the labor experience is with one.  I know that I will continue to recommend you to everyone I know!!

 

Thank you again!

With love,

Angela Housley

 

 

DeVidal Birth

 

I have to say foremost that if I wouldn’t have had my doula I probably would have gone crazy and ended up rushing to the hospital after the second contraction. Sarah did more for me than I believe some family members would have done. Sarah stayed with us over 80 hours throughout the labor and delivery and was such a great support person to have around.

 

It was such a blessing to have someone who had been through two deliveries of her own and knew what pains were to come, as well as the ending delight of the whole event. Even though I didn’t have the completely natural birth I had hoped for, Sarah continued to remind me that I was empowered to make my own decisions whether it was natural or medicated and that truly boosted my confidence as a woman.

 

When it came time for the labor to fully kick in Sarah was with me almost 90% of the birth and was really dedicated to trying different methods of speeding up my delivery and making the whole process as tolerable as she could.

 

Every woman needs to have a supportive doula like her, whether your having a home, water or hospital birth, a doula really takes the stress off both mom and dad. In the future I hope to use her services for every child I’m blessed to bring forth because she really was a wonderful person and a true asset to my family.

 

Sincerely,

 

Charice

 

 

 

Townsend Birth

 

Sarah,

 

I always wanted to have a child and I knew that I would want the best that I could give for him.  This is why I looked into natural (non-medicated) childbirths.  I also wanted to experience childbirth for what it was; a natural wonderful event that I would cherish.  But I also knew that it would be hard, very hard.  In fact, almost every woman that I talked to about my birth plans thought that I was crazy and that I would not be able to do it with no medication.  Well, I did it!!!

 

This was my first child and I really did not know what to expect.  I was scared.  But Sarah, you helped me thru it all.  I really appreciated your knowledge and understanding of childbirth.  You helped me to fill in the blanks and help cement my decision to continue with my childbirth the way I wanted, not the way people told me it should go.

 

You invited my husband and me into your home and helped me on a special weekend meant for your own family to rejoice and be together.  This meant a lot to me.  Thank you.  That night when I went into the most intense of contractions at the birth center you helped me stay focused and encouraged that I could do it.  Your soothing voice, focused attitude, comforting tone and relaxed reassurance did so much for me I cannot fully express it in words.  It was a wonderful experience that I will always remember and treasure.  And I am grateful to you for your support.

 

Having natural childbirth at the birth center with a midwife and having you as my doula were definitely the best decisions that I could have ever made for me and my new baby boy.

 

 

With very much love and affection,

 

Kendra