Choosing a provider for my birth experiences has been overwhelming. After a miserable hospital birth with a careless provider (that almost led to an unnecessary C-section) and a stressful home birth experience with a midwife that didn't show and a doula that was less than stellar, I was hesitant to even consider hiring a support person for my following pregnancy. It seems that everyone is a doula these days, and it can be hard to decide if hiring a doula is even worthwhile. Here are the reasons I chose Rosalia (life's journey) after my 2 poor birth experiences, and why I chose her again when I was expecting my 4th baby. First, she is 100% professional. All of her contracts are clear. You know exactly what you are paying for and what things she is willing to assist with. Secondly, she shares an arsenal of helpful information, that she expands and updates continuously. If I had a question about breech birth, GBS, circumcision pre-eclampsia, etc, she shared with me all that she knew without trying to persuade me one way or the other. Third, Rosalia made my older children feel comfortable and safe. Fourth, if I wanted specific support while I was in labor, all I had to do was ask. If I wanted a bite of granola bar, the diffuser turned on, a fan, a rebozo, etc, I would just say the word and she jumped into action. Fifth, Rosalia is holistically minded. This was specifically helpful to me as I was not interested in many of the main stream prenatal and post partum tests and treatments, and Rosalia and I were able to talk together about alternative options. Lastly, and possibly most important (to me), I appreciate that Rosalia is a Christian. Letting someone into the center of one of the most sacred experiences of my life was difficult, especially considering I was letting this person into my home ( I had home births). I found that many doulas are holistic and spiritual, but I was looking for someone with a genuine faith in the Lord Jesus, and I found that in Rosalia. If you are expecting, and these qualities speak to you, reach out to her for a consult!