Please be aware that this doula is a skilled businesswoman who, to my great surprise, did not respond to a personal email I sent her. Additionally, she appears to have mastered the use of Google advertising and SEO to ensure that only positive reviews are visible online—including removing mine. As a result, you will find only five-star ratings and no critical feedback. She seems to know how to manage her online reputation so that less favorable reviews are never posted. Below is my honest account, which I am sharing in hopes that others searching for a doula can have a more complete perspective. The decision is, of course, yours, but my intention is to share my experience and hopefully help the next woman on her journey. 1. Insufficient Assistance During Labor Contractions A primary factor in our decision to hire you was your promise to use hands-on methods to help me cope with contraction pain. During our initial meeting, you spoke about techniques like targeted pressure, helping me shift positions, and providing spoken instructions for visualization or meditation—all common strategies for labor discomfort. Unfortunately, when labor began, none of these were actually used. Instead, you played a looped recording on your phone that simply repeated, "You are doing great," while you stood by without actively participating. The only direct support provided was a foot massage, which I appreciated, but it fell short of the comprehensive care you described when we hired you. When I specifically requested verbal coaching to get through contractions, I was met only with the same phrase from your recording, rather than tailored encouragement. This left me feeling alone during a very difficult time. My husband ended up stepping in to offer the emotional and mental support we had counted on you for. He reminded me of the coping techniques we had practiced—like picturing contractions as waves—and helped me stay focused. While his help was invaluable, it was not supposed to be his responsibility; we had engaged your services for this very reason. 2. Unmet Commitments About Hospital Timing Another major reason we selected you was your assurance that you would help us remain at home as long as possible before heading to the hospital, and guide us on when to make that transition. During our interview, my husband specifically asked how you would determine the right time to leave for the hospital. You confidently stated that, while you couldn’t check dilation yourself, you would teach me how to assess it—a skill we thought would help us stick to our birth plan. However, when labor started and my husband asked for your guidance on self-assessing dilation, you admitted you didn’t know how to help with this. This directly contradicted what you had previously promised. Additionally, when some fluid began leaking during labor and we asked if this meant my water had broken—a question we expected an experienced doula to answer—you simply responded, "I don’t know." To add to our frustration, you repeatedly urged us to go to the hospital much earlier than necessary—at least two to three hours too soon, as it turned out. If my husband hadn’t insisted on waiting, we would have arrived far earlier than needed, going against our birth plan and the very reason we hired you. 3. Lack of Advocacy in the Hospital At the hospital, we anticipated that you would advocate for us and help ensure our birth plan for a natural delivery was respected, free from unnecessary interventions. Unfortunately, this support was absent. You remained passive and did not assist us in our interactions with the medical staff. To objectively assess your involvement, we even asked hospital staff for their perspective on your role; they confirmed our feelings, commenting that you “weren’t very hands-on.” This feedback only reinforced our disappointment. 4. Disappointing Postpartum Visit The postpartum visit also failed to meet our expectations. Unlike other doulas who offer helpful services such as massages or practical advice during follow-up, your visit felt unproductive. You simply asked how I was feeling, without providing any meaningful support or guidance. I found myself having to come up with questions just to make the visit worthwhile. This was not the level of care or service we expected from a professional doula. 5. Regret Over Financial Commitment Ultimately, both my husband and I feel that the $3,800 we paid for your services was not justified, given the lack of meaningful support throughout the process. From labor at home to delivery in the hospital and postpartum care, your involvement did not meet even the basic standards we anticipated. We trusted your assurances during our initial meetings, but were left disappointed by the reality of what was provided. Final Thoughts In conclusion, our experience with your services fell far short of what was promised and what we expected from a professional doula. The lack of support during crucial moments left us feeling let down and misled throughout every stage—from labor at home to the hospital delivery, and even during postpartum care.