At Maternal Instincts, we don't just serve moms: we serve families.
Here's what a few dads have to say about our services.
Here's what a few dads have to say about our services.
Rhett E. ~
I think that something often overlooked is the husband's role in childbirth. And Traci does a wonderful job of bringing that to light! She will help you (men) understand how to keep your wife comfortable and and secure. Let's face it, we are hot heads, and if we lose our temper, we can lose our ability to advocate effectively. Traci taught me that you can't just "stand up" for your wife or her comfort. Traci taught me that you have to communicate using the best language to assure your message is received correctly. It can't be explained without having been in that situation. Men, just trust me. If you and your wife are wanting to have a baby, talk to Traci. You don't have any idea how much you don't know. It's not hype!
I think that something often overlooked is the husband's role in childbirth. And Traci does a wonderful job of bringing that to light! She will help you (men) understand how to keep your wife comfortable and and secure. Let's face it, we are hot heads, and if we lose our temper, we can lose our ability to advocate effectively. Traci taught me that you can't just "stand up" for your wife or her comfort. Traci taught me that you have to communicate using the best language to assure your message is received correctly. It can't be explained without having been in that situation. Men, just trust me. If you and your wife are wanting to have a baby, talk to Traci. You don't have any idea how much you don't know. It's not hype!
Brandon S. ~
To all the expecting fathers out there … find a doula like Traci.
When my wife (Sarah) mentioned hiring a “doula,” I didn't know the first thing about the profession. Worse, I had a false negative image of a crunchy-granola hippy-dippy lady encouraging my wife to shun modern medicine while placing odd demands on me. I couldn't have been more wrong, and sadly, I believe this ignorant fearful perspective is common amongst today’s men.
I met Traci during her initial house call … a very painless and informative meeting she conveniently scheduled with Sarah. As Traci asked questions about Sarah’s desired pregnancy and delivery experience, her thorough knowledge and pleasant demeanor immediately put us both at ease. Traci also made sure I was included in the conversation without riddling me with questions.
Fast forward two months, and we found ourselves in the ER (OB Triage) as Sarah was in tremendous pain with a very bad case of supposed food poisoning. After IV fluids and lab work, Sarah was sent home only to return several days later with worse symptoms. Sarah was diagnosed with a serious infection with which pregnancy complicated determining if surgery was required. Sarah was discharged after 12 very painful, sleepless, scary days that required two rounds of antibiotics, IV fluids, and IV nutrition with a surgeon on standby.
Sparing further details, Traci was there every step of the way. As Sarah was mostly “out of it,” Traci answered all my questions and tended to Sarah in timely fashion via text, phone, or in person, as appropriate to the situation. Further, Traci was a direct advocate to the medical staff for Sarah in several critical ways I never would have thought necessary.
The experience was obviously horrible for Sarah, yet I wouldn't have anticipated how stressful the hospital stay would be on me, or any family member trying to advocate medical care for a loved one. Traci’s continuous physical, emotional, and informational support taught me the tremendous value of an outstanding doula.
I know Sarah will write a more thorough review of Traci’s amazing services as a doula, but I wanted to share with other fathers-to-be. I strongly recommend finding a doula like Traci even if your wife doesn't initiate the conversation as Sarah did. She’s there to help both of you handle unforeseen emergencies during pregnancy and delivery. You’re going to be just as grateful as your wife for a doula like Traci … she goes above and beyond.
I am so glad to have Traci as my wife’s birth doula for her first pregnancy! Traci is extremely knowledgeable, professional, patient, and kind; and she has been a tremendous help still months before our daughter’s birth.
To all the expecting fathers out there … find a doula like Traci.
When my wife (Sarah) mentioned hiring a “doula,” I didn't know the first thing about the profession. Worse, I had a false negative image of a crunchy-granola hippy-dippy lady encouraging my wife to shun modern medicine while placing odd demands on me. I couldn't have been more wrong, and sadly, I believe this ignorant fearful perspective is common amongst today’s men.
I met Traci during her initial house call … a very painless and informative meeting she conveniently scheduled with Sarah. As Traci asked questions about Sarah’s desired pregnancy and delivery experience, her thorough knowledge and pleasant demeanor immediately put us both at ease. Traci also made sure I was included in the conversation without riddling me with questions.
Fast forward two months, and we found ourselves in the ER (OB Triage) as Sarah was in tremendous pain with a very bad case of supposed food poisoning. After IV fluids and lab work, Sarah was sent home only to return several days later with worse symptoms. Sarah was diagnosed with a serious infection with which pregnancy complicated determining if surgery was required. Sarah was discharged after 12 very painful, sleepless, scary days that required two rounds of antibiotics, IV fluids, and IV nutrition with a surgeon on standby.
Sparing further details, Traci was there every step of the way. As Sarah was mostly “out of it,” Traci answered all my questions and tended to Sarah in timely fashion via text, phone, or in person, as appropriate to the situation. Further, Traci was a direct advocate to the medical staff for Sarah in several critical ways I never would have thought necessary.
The experience was obviously horrible for Sarah, yet I wouldn't have anticipated how stressful the hospital stay would be on me, or any family member trying to advocate medical care for a loved one. Traci’s continuous physical, emotional, and informational support taught me the tremendous value of an outstanding doula.
I know Sarah will write a more thorough review of Traci’s amazing services as a doula, but I wanted to share with other fathers-to-be. I strongly recommend finding a doula like Traci even if your wife doesn't initiate the conversation as Sarah did. She’s there to help both of you handle unforeseen emergencies during pregnancy and delivery. You’re going to be just as grateful as your wife for a doula like Traci … she goes above and beyond.
I am so glad to have Traci as my wife’s birth doula for her first pregnancy! Traci is extremely knowledgeable, professional, patient, and kind; and she has been a tremendous help still months before our daughter’s birth.
Father of 3 boys~
With our first birth of our first son we had no doula. My wife went into labor during the weekend, and the OB that we had been seeing for the last 37 weeks was not on call and not present. The OB that did come in basically said everything you had agreed on with your OB at that moment meant nothing and we was going to do things his way. Add to this the equipment and nurses hovering around you and your wife you will not have a chance to think. Now a note about this birth, when we get into the delivery room and they attached the fetal monitor they could not find a pulse for a few minutes. During this time my head went blank and I had a difficult time keeping calm. As it turned out he was already at +1 station and heading on out and there were no issues.
When we learned 2 years later we were expecting another child the wife asked about a hiring a doula. With the past experience from the first child and knowing that as a husband and father of a 2 year old, at the time, I knew that there was a possibility that the first child would be there as well dividing my time and possibly drawing my attention away during critical questions that a doula was in our best interest. The second birth was much more typical, go to hospital and labor for some time. The doula did provide a source of knowledge and comfort and allowed me to step away for moments to check on the 2 year old before my parents arrived at the hospital. With the third child we again opted to hire a doula, this time Traci. The wife went into hard labor on a Thursday night and continued to labor until Friday morning and then silence, labor had stopped fully effaced and at 0 station. Both the midwife and Tracy recommended we go home, the wife delivered the first two naturally and wanted the same for this one and staying at the hospital would most likely lead to a C-section. We went home and Traci began to look into things that would cause labor to just stop. The two things that stood out to her were large baby and baby in a bad position. She had the wife do inversions to correct the baby’s position and we went about the rest of Friday and Saturday as normal. Sunday evening Traci had come by to check on the wife after a text message was sent and while she was there the wife’s water broke. We got to the hospital and into the delivery room just in time, the third child was born within minutes of arrival.
The doula is an invaluable resource for all, no matter what type of birth you wish to have. You cannot always count on your doctor to be there for delivery and depending on the others in the practice you might end up with something you did not want. A doula is there to offer their knowledge and experience to aid in communication when both mother and father are unable to do so. The doula only wishes to aid in the mothers desire to have a birth they are comfortable with and not to push a particular method of delivery. So yes if we do have a fourth child a doula will be hired, fathers you cannot always keep your head on straight when your wife is going through labor and mothers your husband will not be able to keep it together at all times
With our first birth of our first son we had no doula. My wife went into labor during the weekend, and the OB that we had been seeing for the last 37 weeks was not on call and not present. The OB that did come in basically said everything you had agreed on with your OB at that moment meant nothing and we was going to do things his way. Add to this the equipment and nurses hovering around you and your wife you will not have a chance to think. Now a note about this birth, when we get into the delivery room and they attached the fetal monitor they could not find a pulse for a few minutes. During this time my head went blank and I had a difficult time keeping calm. As it turned out he was already at +1 station and heading on out and there were no issues.
When we learned 2 years later we were expecting another child the wife asked about a hiring a doula. With the past experience from the first child and knowing that as a husband and father of a 2 year old, at the time, I knew that there was a possibility that the first child would be there as well dividing my time and possibly drawing my attention away during critical questions that a doula was in our best interest. The second birth was much more typical, go to hospital and labor for some time. The doula did provide a source of knowledge and comfort and allowed me to step away for moments to check on the 2 year old before my parents arrived at the hospital. With the third child we again opted to hire a doula, this time Traci. The wife went into hard labor on a Thursday night and continued to labor until Friday morning and then silence, labor had stopped fully effaced and at 0 station. Both the midwife and Tracy recommended we go home, the wife delivered the first two naturally and wanted the same for this one and staying at the hospital would most likely lead to a C-section. We went home and Traci began to look into things that would cause labor to just stop. The two things that stood out to her were large baby and baby in a bad position. She had the wife do inversions to correct the baby’s position and we went about the rest of Friday and Saturday as normal. Sunday evening Traci had come by to check on the wife after a text message was sent and while she was there the wife’s water broke. We got to the hospital and into the delivery room just in time, the third child was born within minutes of arrival.
The doula is an invaluable resource for all, no matter what type of birth you wish to have. You cannot always count on your doctor to be there for delivery and depending on the others in the practice you might end up with something you did not want. A doula is there to offer their knowledge and experience to aid in communication when both mother and father are unable to do so. The doula only wishes to aid in the mothers desire to have a birth they are comfortable with and not to push a particular method of delivery. So yes if we do have a fourth child a doula will be hired, fathers you cannot always keep your head on straight when your wife is going through labor and mothers your husband will not be able to keep it together at all times
