I first met Melissa at a doula speed-dating event and instantly felt a connection with her; she was warm, curious, knowledgable, humourous, and she listened to my every wish and dream with an open heart. She is not only an incredible doula but a wonderful person, as well.

Melissa's guidance and loving care allowed my partner and I to lean into the lead-up to labour, labour itself, and the birthing experience. With our prenatal meetings, we discussed our ideal 'plan' for this experience, set ourselves up mentally and emotionally through guided meditation and journalling, and got real about pregnancy and beyond. We developed a relationship through this process and Melissa became someone we deeply trusted. Melissa helped us achieve a magical labour and birth experience, which aligned with everything we had hoped for.

At home, she was our champion through the painful stages of labour, cheering us on while keeping us calm, and providing suggestions to support our birth plan. She supported both my partner and me through her encouragement and positivity, she kept us on track when things felt overwhelming, and she checked in with us regarding our expectations and boundaries that had been discussed previously and advocated for us in the delivery space. Through labour process, Melissa's support via coping mechanisms and pain management allowed us to stay home longer during early labour, which resulted in less time in the hospital and not being turned away (which was a fear of mine). She was there for us in the postpartum period with that same steady, calming energy, only a phone call or text message away.

 This was our first child and I cannot imagine the experience of bringing our daughter into the world without Melissa by our side. She was a huge part of this process for our family, and we would recommend her to anyone preparing to welcome a child.

Molly & Marc