I honestly cannot thank Hollie enough for everything that she did to make my first pregnancy and birthing experience EXACTLY what I wanted them to be. I knew I wanted to work with a doula even before trying to get pregnant, because the statistics on medical care during childbirth for Black women in the US are shameful, and I wanted someone to be present during my birth who saw me as a person, and not just a patient. I reached out to Hollie towards the end of my third trimester, assuming the most I would get is some advice on how to finish out my last few weeks of pregnancy because it was so late, but from the first phone call, Hollie was genuinely interested in me and the family that my husband and I wanted to build and how we wanted to build it. She immediately made me feel safe. Hollie provided me constant support and advice whenever I needed it, no matter the time of the day. I always felt comfortable to reach out to her and never felt like a burden. Hollie was there for the birth of my baby girl and she set such a peaceful and encouraging atmosphere for me in the delivery room. She interacted really well with the hospital staff and made me and my husband feel equipped and knowledgeable enough to advocate for ourselves during my labor. Hollie had a great balance during my pregnancy and delivery of checking in without being overbearing or causing me to worry. And one of her superpowers is that she did a great job of giving information objectively without telling us what to do or making us feel pressured to choose one option over another. She was so incredibly supportive of all of our decisions. In the end, Hollie definitely set expectations well, and then exceeded those expectations. I never thought I'd be so comfortable during childbirth, and that is all thanks to Hollie. I couldn't have asked for a more kind, compassionate, attentive and knowledgeable doula than Hollie. Even now that my daughter is here, Hollie still checks in and I am able to ask her anything. If I have the opportunity to have Hollie present at all future births, I will do so in a heartbeat. I recommend Hollie to every pregnant woman I know and I truly hope they listen. Hollie is the absolute best.
— Deanna R.