Love Letters

Preparing for birth in a pandemic was the reality my husband and I had to face. Dreams of being surrounded by friends and family while celebrating our pregnancy was replaced with Zoom and phone calls. The only human interaction I had was with midwives and ultrasound technicians. We were months into the Pandemic and sick of Zoom, but knew we needed to take a breastfeeding class. It was taught by Renée and to our surprise, we found her class to be engaging and fun. We laughed the entire time while learning skills I still use 7 months into my breastfeeding journey. When doulas were finally permitted to attend hospital births, our search started and ended with Renée. She was so welcoming when we had our prenatal meetings. She taught my husband and I different skills and comfort measures, to best prepare ourselves. Renée presented every option to us when it came to our birth plan ensuring that whatever decision we made, was right for us.

When I walked through the hospital doors with my husband and Renée I knew that everything was about to change and I was comforted to have these two with me. Renée walked beside me, coached, and encouraged me throughout my labor. When we realized that my daughter was very comfortable in an anterior position, Renée used her skills to spin my baby. Even though I was resisting some of the positions she had me in, she knew what to say to get me moving. Aside from the physical ways that Renée helped me, she reminded me how important the mental aspect of labor is.

When I felt that labor was stalling, she would ask “what are you holding onto”. Every time she said it, she was right. I was holding onto fear, doubt, and negativity. I had no idea the impact this would have on my labor until she helped me release it.
Eventually, my daughter made her descent and before we knew it, we gave birth to our perfect little girl. The nurse looked at our birth plan printout and said we did everything listed on it. I know that would never have been the case without Renée.

Our time with Renée didn’t end there. She visited our apartment to help me with breastfeeding and finding the perfect latch for my baby. 7 Months in, and she still checks in with my husband and I. We can’t help but smile when we hear from Renée, remembering the moment our lives changed as we became a family. I wanted to look back to my birthing experience as something positive and empowering. I got that and more and I have Renée to thank for that.

One of the greatest blessings one could experience is bringing a baby into this world. Something that we were able to experience and enjoy with the help of Renée. During a time of several life changes and a pandemic raging at its peak… there were many uncertainties.
One constant was Renée. She reassured and gently guided us, so we could have OUR best birthing experience. The hospital and its staff knew how to bring a baby into the world alive, Renée helped us bring our daughter into the world loved. She not only knew the ways that have been used by women for millennia to birth children but was our advocate for them in the delivery room at the right time and in the right way. She also helped both of us, mother and father, to bond with our daughter immediately after birth. We will never forget what she did for us!

I was referred to Renee by a friend of mine as well as my chiropractor. From the moment I met her during our initial consult I knew she would be a great fit to hold my hand through the birth of our second child. After a couple of home sessions and a virtual as well, I was comfortable that Renee was aware of both my hopes and fears going into this pandemic birth. She provided a great refresher course on stages of labor, what my husband could do to help me during labor, things I should stock up on for after the baby is born, nutritional advice and planning for our family of four. Renee always followed up with me after appointments and kept herself available to me for questions anytime day or night.

When the big day finally arrived, we felt prepared, but were grateful to have Renee for her calming presence and her extra set of hands for whatever we needed – trips to the car, fanning me during contractions when it felt hard to breathe, advocating our birth plan, helping with the first nursing sessions, holding the baby while we showered afterward, warming food, taking photos, you name it!

Following the birth, Renee also paid us a visit a few days later to check in on the baby and myself, answer any questions we had and talk through the birth and the 4th trimester.

Becoming a Mom (even again) is both a physical and emotional marathon and the importance of having the extra support of a Doula cannot be underestimated…it is without reservation that I would recommend Renee’s services. Thanks to her and the rest of my team, we were able to have the natural, birthing center birth experience I had hoped for and most importantly, a happy, healthy little girl in our arms.

I am profoundly grateful for Renee’s support during the birth of my second child. She was a cornerstone member the tribe who helped me to achieve the unmedicated, natural childbirth I so deeply desired.

My first labor and delivery included epidural and Pitocin interventions even though I planned a natural childbirth. I prepared by selecting an excellent midwifery practice, investing in learning about natural childbirth through reading Ina May’s guide and taking classes, receiving regular chiropractic care, massage therapy, and acupuncture. I maintained healthy weight gain and focused on nutrition. I was deeply committed to giving myself the best chances. However, after many hours of prodromal labor my midwife and I decided, together, to augment labor. She could tell I was growing uncomfortable and exhausted and was concerned if I continued to labor in this manner, I would not have the energy to push. Even though my first experience with childbirth was purely magical, I still desired another try for an unmedicated, natural childbirth.

When I learned I was pregnant with my second child in October 2019, I contemplated hiring a doula to give myself an additional advantage to having an unmedicated, natural birth experience. After all, “if a doula were a drug, it would be unethical not to use it” (Kennell). Then, on March 13, 2020 the United States declared the COVID-19 pandemic a national emergency. I faced the possibility that my second child’s birth may be in a hospital treating patients with a novel, highly contagious respiratory infection and that my husband and midwives may not be allowed to attend the birth. I would not be allowed to walk, eat, drink, or utilize the many measures to support natural childbirth. The possibility that my husband or the midwives would not be able to support me during birth was unacceptable and gave me proper motivation to commit to a birth center birth and enlist the support of a doula.

I met Renee through a trusted relationship with my chiropractor, Dr. Meghan McGowan. I attended an online seminar that they co-hosted about birthing during the pandemic. I was immediately attracted to Renee’s warm and nurturing manner and by the end of the seminar I was convinced I wanted her support during my second birth. Looking back, it was the pivotal decision that lead to a perfect birth experience.

Even during the early and uncertain months of the pandemic, Renee was eager to support me through in-person educational and support sessions. She wove the important learnings of the birthing process, comfort measures and what a partner should know with emotional support. Renee and I communicated often on phone calls or Zoom meetings and a bond that would prepare us for labor and delivery formed.

The day before I gave birth, I had irregular, early-labor contractions. I enjoyed sharing text updates and phone check ins with Renee throughout the day and evening and felt she sincerely shared my excitement about the upcoming delivery. At 11 p.m. that night, with contractions about four minutes apart I asked my husband to call Renee to join us. It was an excellent opportunity for him to get some rest before moving to the birth center. Renee was a comfort and support to me during the hours of intense laboring at home. She coached me on breathing, suggested changing positions, soothed my legs and back with massage and essential oils, hugged me when I needed comfort and encouraged me when I felt despair. I am certain this time at home with Renee’s support helped labor progress as much as possible at home.

With contractions about one and a half minutes apart we relocated to the birth center at four a.m. There, Renee ensured a soothing environment with soft music, low lights, essential oils diffusing and continuation of comfort and support. She flawlessly integrated into the care team including a midwife, midwife assistant, birth center nurse, and my husband. Midwife, Caitlyn, later commented how seamlessly Renee incorporated her role into the care team. When it was time to push, her gentle and encouraging reminders kept me focused and resolute. Natalie was born a couple of hours later and Renee remained with me and continued to provide support and comfort. She helped me into bed and, when I was ready, assisted with Natalie’s first latch and breastfeeding. I felt victorious and overwhelmed with joy.

In the following days and weeks, Renee and I remained in contact as she continued to provide breastfeeding support and held space for me to work through a vast medley of emotions and thoughts. We talked about changing relationships, problem solving, navigating parenting two children, and how to respond to stressful situations.

Renee’s support was the exact piece of the puzzle that allowed me to thrive through Natalie’s birth. I am eternally grateful for her wisdom, expertise, time, and comfort. She will always be a pivotal part of Natalie’s birth story and hold a special place in my heart.

I can’t say enough wonderful things about Renee!

I had a high risk pregnancy due to prior cervical surgery and being over 40. We wanted to hire a highly experienced doula to try and have the natural birth we wanted. Knowing our birth plan wishes were most likely going to be complicated. My husband and I were delighted when Renée came highly recommended.

We interviewed 7 very experienced doulas including Renée. Renée was the ONLY one who insisted we meet in person and what can I say… it was an instant connection. She was so empathetic and caring and I knew right away that this was someone I could feel comfortable in front of being at my best and worst. After having her undivided attention in person and on a video call later that week so my husband could meet her too, we unanimously decided she was our person. When making the final decision, Iet it be known that my husband is a practical facts and science kind of guy. I also knew he would want emotional support for him at this life changing event so he could be fully present and centered for me and the baby. When discussing hiring Renée I asked him “Do you feel she has the information and technical knowledge we need?” He said yes. I also asked “Do you think you feel comfortable crying in front of her?” he also said yes. At that moment we teared up and giggled knowing we wanted her extensive knowledge and emotional support to guide us through our birth experience.

The prenatal home visits were super useful and we practiced labor techniques, went over birth plans, labor process, breastfeeding, etc. We also checked in on how we were feeling about each step all the time and got prep homework for the big day. Renée even brought us a labor kit including a birth ball, water bottle, electrolytes, etc. After meeting with her I felt really confident and prepared. Up until the labor, we checked in a few times a week via phone to talk about doctors visits, questions, and how I was feeling,

When our birth reality started to go off the rails at 36 weeks with a possible risk for the baby, Renée helped us to change course and support us through the idea of a much more medical birth than we would have wanted. She asked the right questions and empowered us to challenge the doctors with risk/benefit analysis in order for us to stand by the right decision for us. We ended up making it to 40 weeks until we had to get induced and avoided the preterm risk to the baby thanks to questions Renée helped bring up.

The labor itself was intense and long as many are. Renée met us at the hospital for our induction and was amazing coaching through contractions and giving me massages etc. She was extremely level headed, supportive, and patient as the labor evolved into some unforeseen circumstances. Even though I ended up with an emergency c-section after a very long labor, Renée and my doctors did everything imaginable to get my baby out as naturally as possible until we had no other options that wouldn’t put myself or the baby at risk. They really bent over backwards to try and make the vaginal birth I wanted.

As soon as I was in recovery after our son was born, Renée was back in action making sure I got skin to skin with our son, and that he breastfed colostrum and latched correctly. Upon discharge, she visited us at home twice, always going above and beyond, bringing me flowers and treats. She checked in on us regularly via phone to see how we were all doing and especially how I was feeling. She helped us with breastfeeding, C-section scar, and mental self care. She was a real pillar of support during the baby blues period I suffered after the birth. She really became a friend to our family and we can’t imagine welcoming our son into the world without her. If you are looking for a doula who is knowledgeable, experienced, generous, kind, and a friend for life, look no further. We love Renée Pizzuto!

Warmest,

Gina Aponte Petrovich