When I found out I was pregnant, the thought of having a doula never crossed my mind. It seemed a little bougie for me, but when my doctor left the practice, I started to think about it. It was the best decision I made. At our first meeting, we went over my birth plan. Julie gave me things to work on at home, but she also came back another time to make sure I knew how to do those exercises. She was always checking in, and she always answered right away when I had questions throughout my pregnancy. When I (finally) went into labor, I was texting Julie in the middle of the night while I left my husband sleep. She came over later in the morning and I labored at home as long as I could. Julie had me doing all kinds on different movements and exercises to naturally progress labor because my plan was to go without an epidural (spoiler:I did not make it ha). My labor at the hospital was longer than I anticipated, and Julie never left my side. When I caved and got the epidural, she continued to help me with body positioning to try to progress labor without drugs. She spent 2 nights in the hospital with us. I finally delivered a baby girl and it was a beautiful moment. But just when Julie probably thought she was home free to go home to her bed my placenta would not deliver. I was rushed to the OR and my husband was left with our baby, terrified and confused. Julie did not leave his side. When I returned to recovery but clearly still having issues, Julie called my parents for my husband and did not leave his side until she met my parents and they basically forced her to go home and get some rest. I was in the hospital for 10 days and Julie was in constant communication with my husband to check on me. When I came home, she was one of the first people I wanted to see. If you're on the fence about hiring Julie, stop thinking and just do it. Not only will Julie make you feel more prepared and relaxed going into labor, but you will come out feeling like she's family.