Birth Stories
Ella's Birth
I had the pleasure of having Leemore as my doula for the birth of my second child, Ella. Leemore was always a phonecall/visit away from listening and providing support for me during my antenatal stage. I had a very quick labour and delivery (that quick we didn't make it in time to the hospital!), Leemore arrived at my home ten minutes before my daughter was born.
After feeling Ella's head had descent whilst in the squatting position upstairs in my bathroom!, Leemore was there my knightess in shining armour, to help deliver the baby in a calm and relaxing manner. Even when my daughter's waters were still intact 'the caul', Leemore managed to release them with her expertise.
I cannot thank Leemore enough with her caring, supportive and adaptable approach to her work.
Helen, Mammy to Ella 1 years old
Singing During Labour
Leemore: As I am a Doula here in Ireland I can help my friends and family overseas only by phone and other media. I told my cousin about YouTube and woman singing during labour...
As my cousin and her partner are singing all the time I suggested to take the guitar with them and so it went....
Tuesday April 8th 2008
To: Laniado hospital/hospitals’ CEO/delivery section
We arrived to the hospital On Monday the – 7/4/2008 at 09:30 in the morning with contractions every 4 min. We where admitted and send to the natural delivery section.
Got in to a quiet intimate room, decorated in simplicity and taste. The room is full of mattresses and cushions in all shape and sizes. The feeling was as if we went into someone’s home, far away from a threatening and stressful hospital environment. We could lay down and just be with ourselves relax and experience the labour without anyone interrupting. Everything was calm and pleasant.
{We brought a guitar and started to sing}.
We were assisted by an amazing Doula {Kineret uziel} that got all the freedom and space from the system to help us, and the feeling was that we are in complete partnership with her and the amazing midwife {Pnina}. Immediately we felt free to do whatever we need and any request was positively answered. We where wrapped in warmth and love and that made us calm and easier to connect with the experience we were going trough. When the contractions became closer and delivery was established we moved in to the delivery suite by Pnina. She reassured us immensely and we felt that we are being helped by angels, that herself and Kineret are here for us and there is nothing to be worried about. Because of that everything proceeded as we wanted, and these two brilliant and very professional women, continuously supported, helped and gave us unconditional love.
The delivery was over quickly at 11:48 in the most natural way without any medical intervention no stitches or complications.
After the birth we got as much time as needed, no one rushed us or pushed us. Everything was so calm and relaxed.
Also in the baby unit we received a warm welcome. The treatment was dedicated and professional, we were constantly explained to, regarding what is being done to the baby, and there was full consideration to our needs and wants.
When all was finished, with Pninas’ help and encouragement we started the discharge procedure and at 14:30 we left the hospital on the way home to our two children, which did not received such a positive connected delivery experience.
To sum up we would like to thank from the bottom of our hearts to Pnina the midwife, that thanks to her we received an unforgettable beautiful experience, to the hospital board and to the whole system that is responsible to give women the chance to have a delivery in such an amazing natural and positive way.
Iris, Gabriel and Yael {the baby} Hadar. Hofit.
Reference for Helen Geraghty
"My family and I have had the pleasure of employing Helen Geraghty as our doula from our daughter’s first week through her third month. As first time parents, my husband and I have found Helen’s knowledge of babies and parenting to be indispensable. Her professional manner and training have prevented us from becoming overwhelmed on multiple occasions. I cannot describe how helpful it is for me to have had Helen with us, she is always ready to jump in and help whether it be baby related (minding, feeding, changing, bathing) or housework related (laundry, grocery shopping, starting the dinner, etc.). I never foresaw how little time I would have during the first few months of our baby’s life, and having Helen with us ensured I could spend time with my baby and still chip away at the household tasks and any other jobs I had underway."
Naama's experience
On my first birth, my doula stayed 30 hours with me. It was a story in itself, and my husband and I were lucky to have her with us.
It all started with a friend of mine who recommended me her sister’s doula and my husband was very much against it. “I can support you” he told me, but looking back he realized he needed some support himself…
The whole experience of birth is overwhelming and as the birth giver I was totally focused in my body, the contractions and the movements of the baby. Having my partner with me was very important, but at the same time having another woman that is focusing on me and pushes the right places at the right time, was there for me all the time was reassuring and calming.
Leemore was my doula in my second birth which was still long enough and even though I had an idea of what’s ahead of me it was again very reassuring to have a woman with the experience and the knowledge and most of all the wisdom to know when to stay with me, talk, massage, or just walk with me around the neighbourhood at 1 o'clock at night, and when to let go as well and give the partner a bit of attention.
But even before the pains of contractions, it was great knowing that I can call anytime of the day or night just to share my rapidly changing moods with Leemore and have a patient listener that always had a good word of advise and a good laugh about it all.
I have experienced doulas in Ireland and outside it and the only thing I regret in Ireland is that I didn’t insist on Leemore coming in to the labor room in the hospital. I was on the Domino scheme, but the night I gave birth was a busy one in the Rotunda in Dublin and there were no Domino midwives at all. My midwife was lovely and helpful but not there with me for a lot of the time. In my first birth my doula and my midwife were working together and created a safe and wonderful feminine environment for me and I think this is our right as the women giving birth to insist on having our choice to have a doula with us or to have our birth the way that would be best for us.
But at the end comes a baby and than you could really use a doula to visit you and help out with the first steps of motherhood, not to mention the fun of a massage course that gave me tools how to bond and connect better with my baby and sing to him how much I love him in African.
The pregnancy followed by the birth and the newborn was a time of great changes in my life, plenty of hormonal ones in particular… and having Leemore with me in every step of the way gave me balance and support well needed and a bonus of getting to know a wonderful person.
I warmly recommend any woman that is in this extraordinary journey to find her Leemore to walk alongside with her.
Naama Kolnik