Testimonials:
I had Melodie as my labor doula and she also encapsulated my placenta.
I had a fast labor (yay!) so she met us at the hospital. She was great support while we were there: providing counterpressure on my back, providing LOTS of encouragement (made transition so much more confident!), taking notes so that she could give me a record of my labor later, and taking care of getting water/snacks and getting anything needed from the nurses and midwife, so that my husband and I could focus on laboring. I was pretty in the zone, and she was awesome at reading what I needed: she'd ask if I needed some water, I'd agree, and then magically she made it appear. I didn't have to think about details, which was very cool.
In a way, what was most valuable about Melodie's labor support was what she provided in advance. She met with us at our home a few weeks before the due date (we hired her late) and we talked about what I wanted out of a birth experience and what had been good and bad about my older daughter's birth. She had so many good, thought-provoking questions, and was super thorough even though she didn't seem to be working from a list. At this meeting, she also gave us some ideas for what we could do at home to help me cope with labor before needing her, and before needing to go to the hospital. Her tricks ended up being so effective that I didn't feel the need to go to the hospital until I was nearly transitioning. So that was amazing! She also loaned us a birthing ball for me to sit on to help the baby stay in the right position, which was really nice.
Postpartum: Melodie is a unique placenta encapsulation specialist. She did it at our home! Others in the area pick up your placenta and bring your the capsules after a few days, but I had mine after about 15 hours! My parents, who were at home with our toddler, said that she was professional (of course!) and meticulous in cleaning, and really pleasant to talk to. She was there for a few hours the evening after the birth to prepare the placenta, then left it in the dehydrator overnight, then returned in the morning to grind and encapsulate it. She brought it (and herbal perineal wash, a smoothie in my favorite flavor, a little gift for my newborn, some lactation cookies, and other goodies) to me in the hospital so I could start taking them right away. And I highly recommend getting placenta pills, they truly do give you an amazing boost of energy and help stave the baby blues away! I feel so much better on days I take them.
Though I didn't get the postpartum concierge service, I think Melodie would be great for that too. Judging by her cookies, she's a great cook, and she's a La Leche League leader so her breastfeeding help should be great (she helped me with positioning in the hospital, which I needed even though I breastfed my first, and was great!)
Conclusion: I really can't recommend Melodie highly enough. She's calm, confident, encouraging, and knowledgeable. I feel like her personality was such a good match for my own, which is key in choosing a doula. I had such a fantastic birth experience, and I'm so glad I hired her to make it possible!
Kel S.
Davis, CA
I had Melodie encapsulate my placenta. She was so kind, was very polite as far as hospital privacy goes, and her services were expedient. Also, taking my placenta helped me so much. There were times when I felt so overwhelmed, even angry, with my newborn son. Then I would remember to take my pills, and within minutes my emotions not only evened out, but I found I could actually be cheerful with him! The pills have a slightly strange smell, but that's normal, and nothing I couldn't get over. I highly recommend it to EVERY MOM. Melodie, thank you so much for providing this wonderful (albeit strange, to us Westerners) service.
Caitlin D.
Elk Grove, CA
I had a fast labor (yay!) so she met us at the hospital. She was great support while we were there: providing counterpressure on my back, providing LOTS of encouragement (made transition so much more confident!), taking notes so that she could give me a record of my labor later, and taking care of getting water/snacks and getting anything needed from the nurses and midwife, so that my husband and I could focus on laboring. I was pretty in the zone, and she was awesome at reading what I needed: she'd ask if I needed some water, I'd agree, and then magically she made it appear. I didn't have to think about details, which was very cool.
In a way, what was most valuable about Melodie's labor support was what she provided in advance. She met with us at our home a few weeks before the due date (we hired her late) and we talked about what I wanted out of a birth experience and what had been good and bad about my older daughter's birth. She had so many good, thought-provoking questions, and was super thorough even though she didn't seem to be working from a list. At this meeting, she also gave us some ideas for what we could do at home to help me cope with labor before needing her, and before needing to go to the hospital. Her tricks ended up being so effective that I didn't feel the need to go to the hospital until I was nearly transitioning. So that was amazing! She also loaned us a birthing ball for me to sit on to help the baby stay in the right position, which was really nice.
Postpartum: Melodie is a unique placenta encapsulation specialist. She did it at our home! Others in the area pick up your placenta and bring your the capsules after a few days, but I had mine after about 15 hours! My parents, who were at home with our toddler, said that she was professional (of course!) and meticulous in cleaning, and really pleasant to talk to. She was there for a few hours the evening after the birth to prepare the placenta, then left it in the dehydrator overnight, then returned in the morning to grind and encapsulate it. She brought it (and herbal perineal wash, a smoothie in my favorite flavor, a little gift for my newborn, some lactation cookies, and other goodies) to me in the hospital so I could start taking them right away. And I highly recommend getting placenta pills, they truly do give you an amazing boost of energy and help stave the baby blues away! I feel so much better on days I take them.
Though I didn't get the postpartum concierge service, I think Melodie would be great for that too. Judging by her cookies, she's a great cook, and she's a La Leche League leader so her breastfeeding help should be great (she helped me with positioning in the hospital, which I needed even though I breastfed my first, and was great!)
Conclusion: I really can't recommend Melodie highly enough. She's calm, confident, encouraging, and knowledgeable. I feel like her personality was such a good match for my own, which is key in choosing a doula. I had such a fantastic birth experience, and I'm so glad I hired her to make it possible!
Kel S.
Davis, CA
I had Melodie encapsulate my placenta. She was so kind, was very polite as far as hospital privacy goes, and her services were expedient. Also, taking my placenta helped me so much. There were times when I felt so overwhelmed, even angry, with my newborn son. Then I would remember to take my pills, and within minutes my emotions not only evened out, but I found I could actually be cheerful with him! The pills have a slightly strange smell, but that's normal, and nothing I couldn't get over. I highly recommend it to EVERY MOM. Melodie, thank you so much for providing this wonderful (albeit strange, to us Westerners) service.
Caitlin D.
Elk Grove, CA
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