Appleby, Emerald

与Emerald合作是我们在分娩旅程中做出的最好的决定之一。她知识非常丰富、支持有力且富有同情心，她的陪伴让我们的分娩体验比我们曾经想象的更加积极。 在整个孕期和分娩过程中，Emerald提供了循证信息、鼓励和安慰，帮助我们感到自信并做好准备。她始终超出预期，总是让我们感到被支持和被关怀。从每一次互动中都能明显看出，她真心关爱她的客户，并且深深投入于他们的福祉。 在宝宝出生后，这种支持仍在继续。Emerald在产后提供的指导和照护在最初的几周里非常宝贵，在我们最需要的时候给予了实际帮助、安慰，以及持续稳定的鼓励来源。 我们非常感激Emerald为我们家庭所做的一切。她的专业能力、投入和善意对我们的经历产生了持久的影响，我们会全心全意地向任何正在寻找优秀导乐的人推荐她。

Emerald is amazing. My husband and I were so thankful to have her as part of our care team with the birth of our son. She was there quietly supporting us through the whole process - bringing me water, coaching me with how to push at the right time, and snapping pictures for us that we cherish. Her advice before labour and during the postpartum period was also invaluable.

We can't say enough wonderful things about Emerald as our pre/postpartum doula! We started working with Emerald quite early in our pregnancy and were particularly drawn to her science-informed knowledge and extensive experience as a doula and mum. As first-time parents, we really appreciated the time she spent helping us discuss our birth preferences and identify pain management strategies that would work for us despite my fear of needles. Emerald always made us feel that she was available to come when needed and was quick to reply by text or phone call. She came exactly when we needed her during labour and worked so seemlessly with my husband throughrout labour. When our midwife stepped out of our room for a call, Emerald quickly and correctly realized that baby was coming and made sure the full team was in the room when our daughter was born very quickly! In the weeks following our daughter's birth, Emerald was so generous with her time, coming by every few days and extra visits as needed. She provided invaluable support with the many challenges we had with breastfeeding. We cannot thank Emerald enough and she will always be such a wonderf part of our daughter's life story.

My husband and I decided to work with a doula when I was diagnosed with a complicated pregnancy. Emerald was my birth/postpartum doula and she is so wonderful! She had first hand experience of my diagnosis and was incredibly calm, kind and gentle as she supported by husband and I. As a first time mom,I had so many fears and questions but Emerald, being very attentive, would respond as soon as she was able to- sometimes within minutes. She was always there for me while I was pregnant for my concerns, and continued to be a huge part of my postpartum journey. Her support for breastfeeding is the best. I would highly recommend Emerald to help make your birth and postpartum care as smooth and supportive as it can be. My little family is truly grateful for Emerald.

Thank you so much Emerald for your wonderful care. We had Emerald in 2020 and again now in 2022. She was so wonderful and helped when I again experinced complications the required medical attention and extra support. She helped put me at ease with the change in my birth plan and ensured I got the post pardum care/support I needed. She helped advocate for me when I was having complications and with her urging I was given promt medical care.

Emerald was invaluable in my having the birth I wanted, even when I could no longer have the birth I planned. We decided we needed a doula as this was our first child and we wouldn't have any friend or family support. We found Emerald and her no nonsense, knowledgeable approach (and understanding of our Navy lingo) instantly put us at ease. She continued to be a calming resource when I was told I would likely need to be induced; taking the time to listen to my worries and explaining what it would entail in layman’s terms. She continued to check up on my physical & mental health leading up to “D Day”.When I went into labour naturally, she was quick to meet us at home to assess and make the decision to head to the hospital. Like most labour and deliveries, mine did not go to plan. But Emerald was there holding my hand (and holding the shower wand, holding my juice cup, holding my leg up) and holding back our anxieties. She was able to refocus me and re-motivate when needed. She was able to help me understand the options my care team was offering, and most importantly she continued to advocate for me and the birth I wanted to have. She didn’t leave our side until we were settled in our recovery room with our little girl (more than 24 intense hours later).Emerald was able to take so many treasured photos throughout our daughter's birth. But most valuable was having Emerald postpartum on a number of occasions to talk through my birth event and process all that had happened. She was able to fill in the gaps of the events I couldn’t remember or wasn’t aware of. She was able to explain why certain things happened. She helped me heal and reframe my experience, continuing to offer additional resources should I feel I needed them. I am so thankful to have had her support!

Emerald was very helpful and reassuring during my birthing experience. She helped me make decisions that I had not prepared myself for and is very knowledgeable. She is very kind and comforting to have around and was very helpful to get to needed appointments. She came to my multiple appointments in my 3rd trimester and helped explain procedures or answer questions that I had or worried about Thank you

Emerald was an invaluable addition to my birth team. As a first time mom wanting a home birth, Emerald helped me and my partner feel more confident with our decision while also being very clear regarding the logistics and supplies necessary. Her added value is that she is willing to meet with you multiple times in person so that when the big day comes you feel like you are truly surrounded by familiar, supportive faces. She was excellent at guiding me through helpful cues and images during labour, communicating with my partner, and assisting the midwife when she needed it. After the birth, Emerald helped me get comfortable with breastfeeding and came by to check up on us whenever we needed support. Overall I had a very positive experience and would highly recommend Emerald's doula services to others.

We were so extremely lucky to have Emerald step in to be our doula on short notice last year. Our original doula ended up having a scheduling conflict, and referred us to several others who had volunteered to replace her. We jumped at the chance to have Emerald. She was just the best; attended appointments with us, was available to me through all my distress, then helping us through the long and protracted birth process. And when I was rushed into an emergency C-section and my partner was too emotionally distraught to go in with me, it was Emerald who went in with me. During one of the scariest times of my life, she was my lifeline to keeping my anxiety and panic attacks at bay. She even took the best pictures of my son being born. Any family would be lucky to have her, she is seriously knowledgable, empathetic, and professional while remaining compassionate and helpful.

A very knowledgeable doula with a lot of experience! Confident and helpful.

The birth of my son was a beautiful event in me and my husband's life and having Emerald as our doula gave me the confidence, knowledge and support we needed to fully embrace the experience. She listened to my concerns, confusions , questions and helped me in keeping me calm and informed. My Son was born two weeks overdue. We were very anxious and stressed out but she kept us calm, to take important decisions and most importantly to stay positive. She was at my side the whole time of my labour which was approx. 20 hours helping me with the relaxation , breathing techniques, masaging me. Because of she being there, kept the panicky mode off my huband. She actively involved my husband so that he does not feel secluded and feels an active part of this very important journey of our life. After the birth she was there for me in my postpartrum time.. She wrote a beautiful birth story and presented it to me on our last visit which truly is a keepsake. We were really blessed to have her as our birthing doula. She is AWESOME and we highly recommend her. Thanks so much Emerald!! You Rock!!

Emerald was great.  She met with me before my due date several times so we could get to know each other and feel comfortable together.  She was there with me the whole 24 hours of my labour and was calm and caring and confident.  She slept in the chair beside me when I needed to sleep, she talked to the medical staff to keep informed of my progress and their plan, and she kept my friends informed.  After my delivery she was wonderful too.  She visited me at the hospital every day and she came to my house many, many times to provide post natal doula services and help with nursing coaching, etc. Hi hightly recommend Emerald as a doula.  She was a rock for me and I appreciated her so much.

Emerald was our post-partum doula when our first daughter was born back in 2009.  We became good friends, which is not hard with Emerald, because she's open minded, fun, very knowledgeable, and my daughter loves her.  I'm very proud to have her on my birthing team for our second daughter next January.