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We had the pleasure of delivering our daughters, Daniella (September 2006) and Tamara (November 2007) with Melissa. Her experience, confidence and humor created a pleasant and calm atmosphere in the delivery room which benefited all: Our nurses, our Dr. and us. In addition, her massaging and breathing techniques, along with her endless ideas for birthing positions created less painful birth experience, and helped us achieve our goal - drug-free vaginal births. Additionally, after the delivery, Melissa has made herself available to us for questions and advice, which was extremely helpful for new, inexperienced parents like we were. With great gratitude, it is our pleasure to recommend Melissa Dean as a Doula. We believe that it is imperative to every couple who seeks to maximize and enjoy the birth experience to have someone as resourceful as Melissa in the delivery room. Sharon and Eran ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Melissa was an essential part of making our birth experience as comfortable and fulfilling as possible. Largely because of her support, we were able to have our baby without pain medication, and we relished in 2 hours of immediate, uninterrupted bonding time with our baby girl right after birth. Melissa displayed a uniquely calm, assertive approach which helped us to make critical decisions under duress, while simultaneously plan ahead with thoughtful intelligence. Her presence was always positive, professional and non-judgmental before, during and after the birth. Pre-laboring at home with the use of Melissa's specific skill set and strategies for easing pain and staying focused were instrumental-- especially pressure-point and general massage. When labor came to a halt mid-afternoon, Melissa came up with creative, natural solutions to change the momentum of things, while maintaining our stamina and morale. Melissa was also highly effective as an advocate-liaison between us and the hospital staff, bringing together a roomful of people that might otherwise have felt like a roomful of strangers. Our families commented afterward that they, too, felt reassured by Melissa's calm and knowledgeable presence. We were all in awe of her physical and emotional stamina. We would highly recommend Melissa Dean as a Doula to anyone having a baby who wishes to make it the best possible experience--whether their first child or their tenth! " Jason and Liza (12/07) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We had the most fulfilling and beautiful birth experience with Melissa's help. Her coaching and massage techniques are EXCELLENT and we wouldn't even want to think about what it would have been like without her. If we have another child, she'll be one of the first people we call - just so we can have her join us again! John & JoAnn (5/07) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Melissa has a wonderful combination of compassion, intelligence, keen insight, honesty and emotional maturity that allows her to be an extraordinary birth coach. With Melissa’s guidance and care I was able to have an incredibly powerful birth experience that will remain one of the most amazing events of my life. -Elizabeth (10-06) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~` I arrived at the hospital 45 miutes prior to giving birth to my daughter. My contractions were very close together and the pain I was experienceing was extremely intense and fierce. I felt I needed an epidural. Melissa arrived in my room just as the nurse was preparing to give me an IV and I told her, "I need the epidural, I just can't do this." She immediately reassured me that I could and had me change positions. She kept me focused, she repositioned me several times, and she helped me find the strength I didn't know I had. I birthed my daughter naturally with her help. I have never been so proud and so elated! Cyndi (10/06) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Having Melissa with us at the birth of our first child felt like a valuable insurance. We had no experience and didn't know what to expect, yet we were able to make informed decisions at the hospital and felt like we were in the positions of knowledge and power because Melissa was there to explain things and share her vast experience. Rebecca & David (10/06) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I was so honored to have Melissa assist me with the birth of our son. She is like a long lost friend who knows you so well and a drill sargent wrapped together. A perfect combination for a first-time mom who is naive. Melissa is with her clients every step of the way. Those women who choose to have her share in their birth experience are lucky and blessed. - Melanie (11/05) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Both my husband and I highly appreciate Melissa’s help during the birth of our first baby. She greatly diminished the stress and fear associated with childbirth and gave us confidence. Only thanks to her was I able to avoid antibiotics, labor induction (both were planned but not administered) and potentially other medical interventions, and under her guidance even the epidural proved to be unnecessary. I had not believed that I would be able to have a natural birth, but Melissa helped me achieve this goal and focus on the uniqueness of this experience. At the same time I appreciated the way Melissa was open-minded about the epidural, and I never felt that I was being pressured to do something I was not comfortable doing. I was in labor for 43 hours. Melissa gave me confidence and helped to spend almost all of that time in the comfort of my home. During much of those long hours, Melissa was constantly checking in with us and giving advice over the phone. I could call her any time of the day or night. She came to our house when I felt I needed her by my side and went to the hospital with us. Without Melissa’s advice, I would have certainly gone to the hospital at the onset of labor. Throughout my labor she was helping and guiding me in a very nurturing, confident, and friendly way. We were fortunate to have hired Melissa, and we highly recommend any expecting mom in the Bay Area to hire her. ~Igor & Milena, (12/05 and also 5/07) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We chose to have a doula because we wanted someone knowledgeable, communicative, and “on our team” the whole time. Melissa did that perfectly and helped make the whole delivery team at Stanford hospital work together with us. Catching the baby was one of my life’s most special moments, and having Melissa there to support Karen at the same time made me feel that I could leave her side to do the catching. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Melissa Dean is AWESOME! There are so many wonderful things I can say about her skills as a doula. What stands out the most is her amazing intuition about our changing needs during all the different stages of labor. It's hard to know what you are going to be like when you go into labor nor what kind of challenges are going to come your way. Melissa figures out what you need (even if you don't know) and acts accordingly. For us she realized that, In the beginning of labor at 7am, my husband needed help making breakfast and I needed them to allow me the freedom to labor on my own in the comfort of my shower. I would have never guessed that I would want to be alone for some of my labor. With Melisssa, we had the confidence to labor at home until I was 7cm dilated. If it weren't for her, we would have gone to the hospital hours earlier. I was so glad to have had the opportunity to labor in the comfort of my own home. She's a great presence to have during labor and birth because she is calm, supportive,and she can take control of a situation, but yet she is not overbearing. I believe my nurse had me pushing a bit too early. Melissa knew and voiced her concern but not in a way that would offend or upset anybody.
We recommend Melissa to anybody that is seeking comfort, strength, and knoweldge during their birthing process. Alyssa, Eric, and Nadia (born 7/04)and also Lucia (born 10/06)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Melissa was an invalueable part of our birth experience. Melissa was there for both my husband and I and really supported all of our decisions. She did an wonderful job of making us feel safe and comfortable as well as making sure we fully understood everything as it was happening. including changes in our original birth plan. We were so honored to have her with us, we asked her to cut the cord. Our daughter arrived safely with loving care because of Melissa's help and support. We will use her again should we have another baby, without hesitation, in fact I cannot imagine not having her as our doula during labor and delivery. Robyn, Campbell, CA. Mom to Sarah (born 5/04) and Melissa (5/06) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My husband and I would never have another child without Melissa as our doula! She was so great at keeping us informed of current issues, birth and health options throughout my pregnancy, that we felt completely educated in our whole birth process. She supported us whole-heartedly and made a point to know our desires so that she could help us plan the best birth experience possible. During labor she was incredibly intuitive about how to help me focus best and reach our goal of a natural, drug-free birth. We also appreciated her respect of my husband's role in our baby's birth and how she did not interfere with it, but complimented it. Melissa's knowledge and experience were beyond measure and she completed the most amazing experience of our lives! Stop looking! You have found the best! ~Carl and Jill Yuen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Melissa is phenomenal! Having her there for our baby's birth made all the difference. With her help and my husband's support, I was able to have a healthy baby, an unmedicated birth, and I stayed home as long as possible-it was absolutely ideal." Parents of Cordelia, born 3/04 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Melissa was a godsend. She brought a peace and ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Melissa Dean is an exceptional doula. She comes with our highest recommendation. We have hired Melissa twice. Our first daughter's birth is cronicled below. For our second daughter’s birth, Melissa flew out to PA from CA to wait 3 long weeks for our daughter’s debut. Melissa’s presence was priceless. She educated, observed, suggested, and respected the waiting and the birth process. When our baby was finally being born, Melissa’s voice penetrated through the fog of the pushing phase, offering my discombobulated thoughts a beacon of light towards which to orient. She was integral in the entire process from conception to pregnancy education to the accomplishment of our pain-free home birth and healthy baby girl. Melissa is a conscientious, knowledgeable, highly respected and respectful doula. We esteem her abilities tremendously and trust her opinion and judgment implicitly. Gratefully, Rikki Boehmer & Family 1/07 Naomi Ruth's Story - Who blessed us with her presence for four love filled hours, and then went to Heaven to wait for us there.
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