We used Ellie as a birth doula for the birth of our daughter in January 2018 and then also followed up with a lactation visit. Her presence throughout the process provided us with a huge piece of mind, comfort, calm and reassurance. This was our first child. While I work in healthcare and have a good amount of medical knowledge about labor and delivery itself, there is so much I didn’t know and so much that you just can’t know until you’ve had the experience yourself. There are also a lot of factors to consider that may not be initially obvious and having the experience of someone like Ellie allowed us to be more fully equipped in navigating the process. From the initial visit with Ellie, I felt like my needs and intentions for my birth experience were truly heard and appreciated without judgement. My husband was quite nervous about the whole process and Ellie helped give him some tools to feel more empowered and ready to take on whatever came our way. I opted for an epidural and Ellie stayed with me while my husband stepped out of the room (he doesn’t do well with needles)– she even managed to keep me distracted as the resident was receiving step by step instructions on how to place the epidural!! She provided LED candles and an essential oil diffuser, ensured that lights were kept low throughout the labor and delivery process– all creating a more calming and conducive environment for the arrival of our baby girl. Every doctor and nurse that came into the room stated they felt like they were entering a spa. Ellie worked well with the medical providers and I believe even had some things to teach them (peanut ball and pushing positions!!). Once we arrived home, Ellie continued to stay in touch with us and provide support, especially with breastfeeding which was immensely useful. Overall, having Ellie at the birth of our daughter was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made- I would recommend her to anyone and everyone!