{"id":7918,"date":"2015-06-26T04:30:36","date_gmt":"2015-06-26T04:30:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/villagebirthworks.com\/?page_id=7918"},"modified":"2015-09-04T19:06:56","modified_gmt":"2015-09-04T19:06:56","slug":"testimonials","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/villagebirthworks.com\/testimonials\/","title":{"rendered":"Testimonials"},"content":{"rendered":"

Testimonials<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJessica is my doula and friend. She stood by my side for 13 hours of labor holding my hand and giving me strength and courage to get through it. She sat with me in the hospital multiple times when I went into pre-term labor. She my answered calls and texts at all hours countless times throughout the pregnancy. She encouraged me, made me laugh, and listened when I cried. She made me feel like the most important person in the world! But the crazy thing is…I’m not the only person who can say these things…each and every member of her “village” can tell a similar story. She is one of kind, and we are all so excited to meet her tiny villager soon!<\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tN. Dvoretsky<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth Client Twins<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/span><\/p>\n
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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tI believe most people instantly connect with Jessica and experience a sense of affinity with her. Of all the people in the room with me, her voice and words rang the most true to me, gave me the most peace and strength, and made the most sense to me. I am so grateful Jessica was my doula. She is smart, wise, funny, down-to-earth, steady, unwavering, and her presence provided such a firm, secure foundation for my experience and the atmosphere of the room.<\/p>\n

I very much wanted to give birth at the birthing center and for a variety of reasons, it looked like that might not happen. But I didn’t want to give up on that being a reality unless it was imperative for me to be transferred to a hospital. Jessica kept telling me how strong I was and what an amazing job I was doing and respecting who I was and where I was at. (And yes, we got to have baby at the birthing center.)<\/p>\n

Hubby says she was patient, creative, always took the the time to assess the specific situation (instead of blindly trying to force what worked for a past client), and always listened to me and my body.Thank you Jessica; you are loved.<\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tErica Billings<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth Client<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tI don’t even know where to begin or how to begin to describe Jessica. I could sit here and say shes “amazing, wonderful, kind, caring, compassionate, calm, and on and on and on.” The truth is, words cannot begin to describe or even skim the surface of just how incredible she is. Being a VBAC Mom, due only 18 months from my first I was already a bit nervous and completely unsure of myself, my body and my ability to birth a baby. The amount of care Jessica took to make sure through my pregnancy I knew and believed in myself is incredible. She was supportive even when I wanted to give up. She never let me but always listened and validated my fears and concerns. The day I went into labor with my son, she checked in with me often and kept me calm, collected and focused. When it came time to go to the birth center, I knew that everything was going to be okay. Throughout the hardest points of labor, Jessica was there to support not only me but my husband, she knew exactly what we needed when we didn’t. whether it was breathing with me, reminding me to listen to my body, or putting a few drops of lavender on my pillow, she took such amazing care of us. I cannot recommed Jessica enough and I am so proud to be a part of her village, a network of moms whose lives have been made better for knowing this amazing human. We had such a life changing experience that only a few weeks after our son’s birth we were already talking about a third…**she’s magic y’all**<\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPj Barnett<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth Client VBAC, Placenta Encapsulation<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0We love Jessica! We hired Jessica for our second child after my first was a c-section. She helped us have a successful non-medicated vbac. When we found out we were pregnant for the 3rd time the first thing my husband said is “book Jessica!” My 3rd pregnancy was twins! She helped us have a non-medicated vbac with the twins as well.
\nJessica is fantastic and everyone who has ever worked with her loves her…all of the staff at the hospital and my doctors office have nothing but good things to say about Jessica. She is very knowledgable in her work. She was exactly what I needed in both birthing experiences. She encouraged both my husband and I in different ways to make the labor a success. I needed my husbands strength and Jessica’s nurturing touch and encouragement. She does a great job at communicating to you during labor and also uses different techniques like essential oils, massage and different positions. She also was able to take some wonderful pictures of my delivery!
\nI am forever grateful for her help in my birthing experiences.<\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMonica & Dustin Drew<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRepeat Birth Clients, VBAC, Twin VBAC<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t I cannot say enough wonderful things about Jessica Gonzales and her village! Let me start by saying that by becoming Jessica’s client you gain not only the most amazing doula but an entire village of moms struggling through this beautiful thing called motherhood together. I have been so, so grateful for the community Jessica connected me to, especially as a first time mom. Jessica is a phenomenal doula. I had an incredible birth experience thanks to her support and expertise. Jessica came highly recommended by the practice I worked with (the midwives at Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women). It was clear that she was respected and a crucial part of the team during labor and delivery. Jessica’s prenatal visits were awesome. I felt like she really got to know me AND had wonderful advice\/tips that were unique and really worked. I had spent about 10 billion hours on Pinterest and the internet, and all of the research in the world couldn’t compare to Jessica’s breadth and depth of knowledge and her ability to apply it to my specific situation. I went into preterm labor and was put on bed rest, and Jessica was so attentive and available. Once it was time for baby girl to arrive, Jessica was AMAZING. I was instantly calmed by Jessica’s presence and her knowledge of birth. She made me feel strong and capable and brave. When I vomited, she put peppermint oil on my pillow. When I was having contractions on the intake floor that were aching in my lower back, she gave me the BEST back massage EVER during a contraction. As I was heading toward transition, Jessica let me know what sensations to expect. When I was scared during transition, she helped me relax and be fearless, to let my body do what it was designed to do. Jessica encouraged me to trust myself. When I said I didn’t want any more pelvic exams, Jessica helped me stand up for myself in my most vulnerable moments. Jessica was a key reason I had a great birth experience that made me LOVE motherhood.<\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLeah Peters<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth Client<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t I had the pleasure of working with Jessica for the birth of my twins in February 2015. \u00a0I hired Jessica to be at my birth because she had a lot of experience and after I met her in person, I realized that she was a very kind, understanding, and informed individual. \u00a0Immediately I felt like she was my friend and advocate. Jessica was very supportive of any type of birth that I wanted to have and I whole-heartedly agree with her philosophy of preparing and informing yourself as much as possible, but then letting go to an extent and embrace the experience handed down to you by the “birth gods”. \u00a0It was very important to me to have a vaginal birth with as little intervention as possible. \u00a0Throughout the later part of my pregnancy I found myself faced with lots of very important decisions. \u00a0When making these decisions, I relied on Jessica to bring up valid points on both sides of the argument and fully support me in any outcome. \u00a0Jessica made herself available at any hour both in preparation for and during the birth. \u00a0She sat with me through a two day induction, all the while being present without being intrusive. \u00a0In moments of frustration and disappointment, she was my voice of reason. \u00a0When speaking with doctors and hospital staff, Jessica was very helpful. \u00a0She never spoke for me, but reminded me of points that were important to me when they slipped my mind during these conversations. \u00a0I am very happy to have had Jessica at the birth of my twins. \u00a0Her presence and wisdom was a great asset in achieving the type of birth that I wanted. \u00a0She helped me attain a very natural birth in the very unnatural setting of the hospital. \u00a0Jessica was extremely supportive and caring throughout the whole experience. \u00a0I would highly recommend her as a doula to any other looking for a friend and advocate during pregnancy and birth.<\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKimberly Wilutis<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth Client Twins<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t My wife and I have had the pleasure of working with Jessica during the birth of both of our children. \u00a0She was great! \u00a0Although I was a little hesitant that I was somehow being replaced at first, I discovered that she was actually a welcome addition that allowed me to focus on the role that I needed to play … to support my wife. \u00a0Jessica took care of the rest and was knowledgable and caring along the way! \u00a0I highly recommend getting to know and working with Jessica.<\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCraig Hauschildt<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRepeat Birth Client<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Jessica Gonzales is an amazing doula! We interviewed several doulas before we found our perfect match. She always listened to what we had to say and helped us to realize our birthing vision. Jessica is a kind and caring person. She filled us with confidence at every meeting. We are truly blessed to have found our perfect doula.<\/span><\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAli W<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth Client<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/span><\/p>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJessica’s expertise was invaluable to us during our pregnancy and birth. While complications didn’t allow me to have the natural, unmedicated childbirth that I planned and hoped for, it was still so good to have Jessica on board. She really saved us at the hospital, watching out for important things the nurses had missed and holding our hands through what ended up being a difficult time. She is very professional, friendly and fun, with a great sense of humor, which is something you need when going through pregnancy and childbirth. She also runs a great community and you have access to activities, resources and online groups if you are a client of hers. Postpartum is where Jessica really shined for us. We had some issues with breastfeeding and she helped us get back on track and was right there when we needed her to help us through another tough time. I don’t know where we would be today without her. She is well-connected in the birth and parenting community and this really helps when you are in need. We also recommend her for placenta encapsulation – she did a great job with this and I really enjoyed my goodie bag of samples and aromatherapy essentials for those crazy first weeks after the birth. Jessica is an all-around awesome person with lots of tricks in her bag. I highly recommend her for doula services.<\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAndrea Spirov<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth Client<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIn simple, she’s amazing and you won’t regret choosing her.<\/strong>\u00a0 I do have some anxiety problems and thought a doula would be helpful through such a life change.\u00a0 She is the ideal doula any doctor would be happy to work with.\u00a0 I’ve heard those stories of overbearing doulas who think they are doctors\/know more\/etc – she is not.\u00a0 Jessica is very nurturing, patient, and strong for you.\u00a0\u00a0And when the situation requires\u00a0– she is calm and professional.\u00a0 My pregnancy began with no problems, and ended with complications that would have\u00a0left me with such fear and anger of never considering\u00a0another child if it weren’t for her.\u00a0 She will forever be my doula and was a God-send.\u00a0<\/strong>Because of her I made it through my pregnancy, birth, and continue to keep in touch\/have support with her and her other clients through her private group – all without daily anxiety medicine, unmarried\/new\/rocky relationship with surprise pregnancy, doctor change\u00a0at end of 2nd trimester, IUGR, pre-ecclampsia, hospitalized, unwanted induction almost 5 weeks early, complications during birth and managed to skip an epidural and c-section is the shortened version.\u00a0 Even if you have the perfect situation, Jessica is amazing.\u00a0 She will make your pregnancy and birth\u00a0a personal and joyful experience that you will cherish your entire life.<\/strong><\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKelly Corken,<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth Client<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t My husband and I are so grateful to have had Jessica with us at our son\u2019s birth! Although I know you can never totally expect what labor will be like (especially with baby #1) we still felt very prepared for every possibility after taking Jessica\u2019s birthing class and through our doula-client meetings. With Jessica\u2019s help and insight, we also felt very informed and confident about our birth plan and our desire to have a natural birth. Jessica is so selfless and nurturing \u2013 she also has a great gift of making you believe in yourself when things get tough! I went into a slow early labor in the afternoon, staying in touch with Jess the entire time. As labor became more active, she came over to our house around 1am and helped me into various positions that enabled me get through each contraction while helping labor progress. We all went to the hospital around 3am and Jessica stayed by my side until our son was born in perfect health at 1:34pm the next afternoon. She never seemed tired or frustrated \u2013 always loving and encouraging. Also, Jessica has an outstanding reputation at TCHWomen\u2019s Pavilion and so the hospital nurses and staff really allowed us to labor as we wanted without a lot of interruptions. (I\u2019ve also been told that Jess is a favorite doula among the doctors and midwives at TCH!)\u00a0Another one of my favorite things about Jessica is how much she empowered my husband to help me throughout labor. I think it can be a very intimidating process for your partner, and she had a wonderful ability to help him be there for me. My memories of him beside me throughout labor are the sweetest most intimate moments with him, and I think Jessica really helped facilitate that. I really don\u2019t know that we could have followed through with a natural birth without Jessica and I\u2019m so very, very grateful for her! It\u2019s also wonderful as a new mom now being a part of the VBB community! <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAmanda Pfeiffer<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth Client & Childbirth Class Student<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Jessica is a God-send. My husband was initially skeptical about hiring her. However, after I gave birth, he couldn\u2019t stop raving about how awesome and helpful she was to anyone willing to listen. My labor nurses also said she was one of the best they had ever seen. I know that I could not have done it without her. She\u2019s not just there for you while pregnant and during labor, she also ensures you have support from her \u201cvillage\u201d with in-person and online support group.If you want the best doula around, hire her! It will be the best decision made for your pregnancy, birth and entry into the crazy world of motherhood. <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEmily Foster Vega<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth Client<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t My husband and I knew as soon as we got pregnant that we wanted to hire Jessica as our doula. A friend of ours used her for the births of her two kids and swore by her. We hired her around month 3 and felt so comfortable with her from the start. She is so personable and warm and you feel so relaxed and at ease in her presence.\u00a0The day I went into labor Jessica was helping me from the beginning to recognize if my water broke and trying to get me to start labor naturally as I was not having contractions. We texted back and forth for most of the day since I was not yet in active labor. She then met us at the hospital and stayed with us throughout the night until our baby was delivered. I could not have managed the pain, and stayed calm without her calming influence. Jessica had a postpartum visit with us in our home about a week after giving birth.\u00a0I strongly recommend Jessica as a doula because she is there every step of the way. You never feel uncomfortable with her around. If anything you feel more comfortable having her with you. It is just so nice having someone who has been part of hundreds of births present because she can help you understand what is going on when things can get chaotic or when things feel rushed. She is there as a liaison between you and the medical staff, although she will never make a decision for you.\u00a0After having Jessica present for our daughter\u2019s birth, there is no way I would have another child without her being part of it. You walk away from everything feeling supported and confident in the decisions that were made during labor. You just feel as if she is a family member in the delivery room with you (I only had my husband and Jessica in the room with me). I LOVE Jessica and recommend her to anyone looking for a doula. You cannot go wrong! I cannot say enough to describe the positive feelings I have with our decision in hiring her!!\u00a0Thank you Jessica for making or birth experience so wonderful! <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAlissa Noshie<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth Client<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t I am so happy we used Jessica! This was baby number 1 and there is no way I would have made it all natural without her. She was calm and reassuring throughout the entire labor process and delivery. She has such great knowledge and really knew what positions would help progress labor. I also went to her birthing classes which helped us prepare for the rest of the pregnancy and labor. People always ask me what a doula does. I\u2019d say Jessica was a like a coach. With each contraction it\u2019s very easy to loose focus, to start to doubt yourself, to tense up and pull away from the pain. Jessica brought me back to focus with each and every contraction. Focus on vocalizing, focus on my baby, to think that each contraction in bringing me closer to holding him. Focus on the smell of the different oils she brought. It was such an amazing, powerful experience and I would definitely recommend using Jessica. <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWendy DiGiacinto<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth Client & Childbirth Class Student<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t I would wholeheartedly recommend Jessica Gonzales and would definitely use her services again. I met her at a party and felt comfortable right away and never bothered to consider anyone else. She\u2019s a great listener, she\u2019s nonjudgmental, and definitely respects all your wishes. I was having my second child and was going for a VBAC. I think to have a successful VBAC it is crucial to have a supportive team. She helped me find the right doctor. Jessica really knows and understands the options (home, birthing center, hospital) and can recommend the right option for you. She works well with the medical system and seems to know all the people and protocols. I had a great and fast delivery. Jessica rode in the car with us and basically made sure I didn\u2019t have the baby in the car! She called the hospital and had them ready to receive us and helped me with breathing. As a testament to the level of respect she has with the hospital and doctors\u2026 They basically stood out of the way while she delivered my baby! Lastly, when she came for a postpartum visit she shared such a beautiful birth detail that I would have never known if it weren\u2019t for her. God Bless You Jessica! <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tUmarah Zakaria<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth Client VBAC<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Hiring Jessica as our doula was a great decision. Jessica came highly recommended to me by a few other women I knew, and once we met her, we never looked back. Jessica provided information and reassurance throughout the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of my pregnancy, and when I went into labor, she was in constant text and phone contact. She beat us to the hospital! And she knew exactly where to take us. My husband said that when I saw Jessica waiting for us at the hospital entrance, I visibly relaxed because her presence was so comforting to me. Jessica cared for me incredibly well during my labor and, though I ended up delivering by Cesarean, Jessica stayed until I was able to hold and feed my baby for the first time. If we are still in Houston for our next baby, I will certainly want to work with Jessica again! <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tElizabeth Korver-Glenn<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth Client<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t There\u2019s no way I can do justice to Jessica\u2019s talent and expertise as a doula in a post, but here goes\u2026 I could not have had the birth I wanted to had I not had Jessica on my team. She gave me expert advice and comfort leading up to the birth so that I was as prepared, healthy, and ready as I could be when I went into labor. She was familiar with my doctor, my hospital, and their procedures, so she knew exactly what to say and put in a birth plan to get all hospital staff on board with what we wanted. She then kept me going through 26 hours of hard labor where I completely doubted myself \u2013 providing the confidence, reassurance, and structure to make it through to the happy ending of my son\u2019s natural birth. She also fully engaged my husband so that he was a vital part of the process, which was something that was important to both of us. When Jessica finally went home \u2013 making sure that I was all safe and snuggly with my newborn \u2013 my nurse commented on what a stellar doula I had, noting that all doulas were not like her. (And this was not a chatty nurse, she went out of her way to make that comment.) What\u2019s even more amazing about Jessica is how much she\u2019s done since the birth as well. She linked me to a wonderful lactation consultant who guided me through 2 weeks of latching and health problems and when I was seriously struggling through those 2 weeks, Jessica referred me to a lovely postpartum doula to help me through the nights. At this point my husband and I feel confident to take over on our own, but Jessica has even lined up extra help if I feel I need it in the future. I really have been in such good hands with her throughout this whole process. I am so looking forward to going to the support group she started for new mothers and I feel really good knowing I can turn to her for advice and other referrals and support as I go forward. I don\u2019t know how I got so lucky to have found her, but I am truly grateful for it. <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJordan Press<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth Client<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t I hired Jessica early in my pregnancy and it was great having her as a guide and a teacher while I was deciding what was best for me and my family. It always made me feel great knowing I had an advocate with similar values I could turn to when I needed support. What I like about Jessica is how much knowledge and experience she draws from which provided me with the information I needed to make an informed decision. She was extremely reliable and was available when I needed her. Jessica was right there with me during the entire duration of my challenging labor and birth. My husband and I believe that she was a crucial part of our birth plan and without her we wouldn\u2019t have been able to achieve the unmedicated natural birth that we wanted. <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEmily Weisenbach Nickel<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth Client<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t I cannot imagine ever having a baby without Jessica. Tom & I are working professionals (finance & oil\/gas) with high standards. We were not sure we needed a doula. Jessica is very good at reading people and adjusting her style to yours. We like facts and information and she is full of them, and has great resources. She helped us work with our doctor who later told us what an amazing doula Jessica was(they had not worked together before).\u00a0The first few sessions are getting to know each other and your parter too; she is \u201cgoing to see you naked after all\u201d! Tom really appreciates the relationship he formed with Jessica. In addition to the nurturing relationship, I was at ease by her strong knowledge, level of experience working with pregnant women and at various types of births. By the time birth day came around we had a strong relationship of trust with Jessica.\u00a0Jessica worked with us through a 25 hr labor. She helped choose laboring positions, talked us through contractions, advised Tom on ways to support me, and worked very well with the nurses and doctors (she put them at ease and never was there any tension in the room). She slept very little, instead encouraged Tom to rest in the few quiet moments overnight. My anxiety and pain was reduced by her amazing massages and warming hands. Jessica also took great photos for us.\u00a0When it was time to push, Tom was very excited, shouting and holding me. Jessica provided the perfect counterpart with a calm voice and warm look in my eyes. Our son was born blue and had to be resuscitated. Those first few mins were torturous; Jessica\u2019s voice helped pass that time. Now I continue to bring her questions and when I feel down she helps bring me around. Having a baby is hard work, and never again would I do it without Jessica as our loving and professional doula. <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKatie Jozwicki<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth and Placenta Encapsulation Client<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t We met with Jessica to see if she was a good fit for the birth of our first child. I instantly felt at ease with Jessica. It is rare that I cry, especially in front of those I do not know well, and in our first meeting, I knew that I could be vulnerable enough to do so. Jessica was professional but felt more like a friend. She was warm and nurturing throughout the pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. She was by my side throughout the labor, helping me to find the strength to forego pain medications (which I did), and work through a long labor (17 hours). She was patient, strong, and very supportive. I cannot imagine going through this without her! My husband was grateful to have someone else in the room with so much knowledge and experience who could explain the different stages of labor that I was going through. She was also incredible with the hospital staff. Many of the staff knew her and had worked with her in previous births. I will definitely use Jessica again in future pregnancies! <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNatalie Henderson<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth and Placenta Encapsulation Client<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t The moment I discovered that I was pregnant I knew that I wanted to hire a doula for our birth. My recent move to Houston Texas meant that I did not have an established community to find recommendations for a well-respected doula. Fortunately, a friend, who is also a doula, did offer some names and organizations in the Houston area. One being, Jessica Gonzales. Upon meeting Jessica, I found her to have an amazing presence, which came across as calm and confident. Our initial conversation was easy-going and helpful, she was willing to offer advice even before I agreed to hire her. This proved that she is genuinely a helpful person and not out simply for our business.\u00a0Throughout my pregnancy, Jessica was always available and full of wonderful resources. Our home visits consisted of practical and emotional matters that only Jessica would bring up. It was reassuring to have someone to discuss matters that the doctor did not make time for in the examination room.\u00a0Jessica\u2019s most valuable assest \u2013 coaching through labor and delivery! I do not know what we would have done without her present in the delivery room! She knows exactly what to do. I felt so safe and reassured with her being there. Nurses and residents would enter and leave the room without much regard to my well-being other than to check the monitors. Jessica, however, knew what I needed before I did. At one point, I felt nausea. The nurses offered medicine but Jessica, knowing that I did not want extraneous medication, threw a washcloth with pepperiment oil in front of my face and my nausea dissipated. Her calm coaching skills allowed me to deliver without any medication whatsoever and to persavere through the difficultly of labor. I have a picture of Jessica looking at me when Wyatt was just born \u2013 she was glowing! That in itself displayed to me that she truly loves her career. <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRenee Ford<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth Client<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t We could not have been happier with Jessica, actually, we (I) couldn\u2019t have done it without her. My wife wanted a natural birth, and, while she definitely has the strength to pull it off no matter who is around, I\u2019m not sure I would\u2019ve without Jessica\u2019s help both during pregnancy and especially during the delivery.\u00a0Jessica made herself available throughout the pregnancy for any questions that my wife or I had. Our baby came several weeks early, which I\u2019m sure threw a wrench in her schedule, but Jessica was quick to arrive when labor started. She accompanied us to the hospital for delivery AND for a \u201cfalse\u201d alarm a few days prior.\u00a0Her guidance was much appreciated and extremely helpful during the actual pregnancy, but where Jessica really shines is during the labor & delivery. We were as prepared as books & classes can make you, but experience is much more valuable, and Jessica has lots. Her knowledge and calmness during labor was invaluable.\u00a0We cannot recommend Jessica enough! <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTaft Tucker<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHusband, Birth Client<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t I am so grateful to have found Jessica as my doula! She was instrumental in my successful hospital VBAC. Even my husband acknowledged that we would have never been able to achieve the birth of our dreams without her help.\u00a0She is a very experienced doula with such a caring and attentive nature. We met several times throughout my pregnancy and with each meeting she got to know us better and learned what our desires were for the delivery of our second child. She had excellent suggestions of what we could do to prepare us for delivery especially since I was planning a VBAC. By following her advice, I went into labor on my own (which was its own small victory) and stayed by our side throughout my 30 hour labor. She coached my husband and I through every contraction and helped us navigate the requests from nurses, on-call doctors, and residents to make sure we kept our plan on track.\u00a0I highly recommend her. If we have a 3rd child, she will be the first one I call to be part of my birth team! Thank you Jessica! <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAna A. Manzolillo Ramirez<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth Client VBAC<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Words cannot fully express how grateful I am to have had Jessica as my doula. She is simply amazing! From our very first meeting, it was apparent that Jessica was not only extremely knowledgeable about pregnancy and birth, but also very caring and passionate about her mothers. Jessica has a calm and reassuring presence, which was not only vital during labor and delivery, but also made it so easy to build a trusting relationship with her during my pregnancy. She spent a great deal of time getting to know myself and my husband, and finding out what my pregnancy desires, fears, and concerns were. Jessica was able to present great information to us for all of our questions that allowed us to make the decisions that were best for our family.\u00a0Her support during my pregnancy was wonderful. It was so reassuring to have a person who I could contact with any questions at any time. Whenever I would become anxious or nervous, she was a calming presence. I very much wanted an unmediated labor and delivery. Having Jessica as my doula helped me prepare and plan for this as much as possible and gave me the confidence that I needed as a first time mom. Her massage work during contractions was truly priceless! My birth experience was just perfect and having Jessica as my doula was without a doubt the most influential and critical component of having the birth experience that I wanted and will always cherish. It was truly the most emotional and empowering day of my life.\u00a0Jessica\u2019s relationship with her parents does not end in the delivery room. She has truly created a village and organizes support groups, gatherings, classes, and potlucks for her parents. I\u2019m really enjoying being able to see Jessica as my baby grows and meet other parents. It is so nice to have support, friendships, and love as I start this new journey of parenthood. I am so looking forward to my next pregnancy and having Jessica by my side as my doula again. <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMary Finucane<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth and Placenta Encapsulation Client<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t I have no idea how I could have gone through my whole labor process without Jessica as my doula. Originally, we planned for a natural unmedicated birth, but things don\u2019t always go as planned, and I ended up having to get induced due to cholestasis. I was not dialated at all and 0% effaced and the odds were against me. Our baby definitely did not want to come out, and the induction process ended up lasting about 55 hours. I can honestly say that without Jessica as our doula, I definitely would have had a c-section and even my husband agrees. It was mentally challenging to say the least, but Jessica reminded me constantly to trust my body. I wanted to give up so many times, but she didn\u2019t let me. Also, she really helped me when I was in active labor for about 9 hours and even my husband agrees that he would have had no idea what to do even though we took Bradley classes and adequately prepared. We had a successful vaginal birth, but more importantly, our baby girl came out happy and healthy. Thank you Jessica! <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJulia and Jason Wang<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth and Placenta Client<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Jessica was our ANGEL from heaven! My husand and I chose to work with her for my first and long-awaited pregnancy. I had wanted to have a natrual (unmedicated) delivery and she helped me accomplish that goal. I really appreciated being able to communicate with her during my pregnancy about all my random questions and also share my excitement with her. She is very knowledgable about pregnancy, labor, and babies and was able to help me many times with ideas to help me with pregnancy aches and pains, breastfeeding issues, postpartum care, and getting adequate help following delivery. She was also able to give me a good referral source for a lactation consultant as my baby had latch issues that required extra special attention.\u00a0I will always have a special bond with Jessica after going through my birth experience with her by my side. Labor is not easy, but she helped ease my fears and made it a positive experience for both me and my husband. Love you Jessica!! <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHeidi Brown Keele<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth Client<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Jessica was meant to be our doula. From the moment I met her I felt I could talk to her and I got an overwhelming sense of calmness. She is knowledgeable and relatable, I felt comfortable asking her what I thought were silly questions and she always answered.\u00a0When my water broke at 5:30 in the morning, I hated to wake her, but she was excited and happy to hear from me. When our birth didn\u2019t go as planned, she never made me feel less for opting to not go natural, as originally intended. When we were told that it would be the next day before the baby arrived, she got comfy and settled in for the night. And when I felt like I couldn\u2019t go on she let me know that it was in me and that I could. My husband has said on multiple occasions that he wouldn\u2019t have gotten through the birth without her. The birth of our daughter will always be a special day, but was made more special by the fact that we were blessed to have this beautiful, kind and loving spirit that Jessica embodies with us. <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMonique Mahler<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth Client<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Jessica fully embodies what a doula is, an advocate for the mother. The services she provided my family were invaluable. she stayed with me through a 20+ hour labor and helped us make informed decisions throughout the entire process. Her postpartum support can not be matched, when we had trouble breastfeeding Jessica was able to quickly get us in touch with the right people. In addition to her support as a labor doula she has also created a fantastic support network for past and present clients. <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tErin Reioux<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth Client<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t We love our doula, Jessica!! She is the best!! I met her when I was around 9 weeks pregnant with baby #2. I had interviewed three other doulas prior to our interview and just didn\u2019t have a connection with them. Then I met Jessica and we clicked immediately! She has this warm, friendly, super kind vibe about her and I loved that. I knew she would be perfect for my husband and I. I like that she has a wealth of knowledge about birth and women\u2019s health in general. We met several times during my pregnancy and I always looked forward to our visits. We were set to have a hospital birth with an OB for my VBAC and around 34 weeks we became very uncomfortable with what he was telling us. Basically he was back peddling on what he would and wouldn\u2019t let me do when labor finally kicked in. Jessica met with us and laid out our options which really helped. We decided to end care with our OB and start seeing a midwife for our home birth. I am SO thankful for her suggesting that option to us. I was overwhelmed as the last several weeks were happening. Once the big day arrived, I was extremely thankful to have her there with us! She completely got me through a tough labor. She was the only one out of my husband and two midwives who could keep me calm and grounded for the task at hand. Her energy was exactly what I needed. I really don\u2019t think I could have done it without her! She helped a ton with getting me into good positions and helping me breath when I was getting overwhelmed during painful contractions. She also has awesome photography skills and managed to take a bunch of beautiful photos for us capturing those great moments! After the birth she made me a lovely placenta smoothie and helped straighten up our house with my husband and our midwife. She is wonderful and so special to our family! <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJessica Cortes<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth and Placenta Client<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t First I want to thank you for providing such an incredible service. I don\u2019t know if I ever shared with you the benefit of taking the placenta during the baby blues period. I jokingly said it was like taking an anti-anxiety medicine. I would get anxious around a lot of people, but as soon as I would take the placenta, my nerves would be calmed. No this was not a placebo effect; instead a true replenishing of hormones. Also in the first month of my milk regulating, there were times that i needed more milk than i had. I was so impressed with help of taking the pills, my milk would quickly develop. Now, four months in, I am donating extra milk to the hospital for NICU babies nourishment. Oh, my son is healthy as a horse, happy as could be and extremely attentive to the world around him. Parenting is truly a humbling activity and joyous role.\u00a0Thanks,\u00a0Ileya <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIleya G.<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPlacenta Client<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t My husband and I went back and forth on whether we would hire a doula. The price worried us, but we continually were encouraged that it was well worth it. All of those encouragers were absolutely, 100% right! Jessica was a godsend. From the moment we met her, we knew she was perfect for the job. She spoke to my fears and empathized to our specific situation. Each visit after that, she was brilliant at walking us both through where we were in the moment and what we could expect in the future. As our due date drew near, we realized how truly lost we would be navigating false labors (and then real labor) without her. Then the day came. We could not have done it without her. Truly. Jessica is the perfect mix of strong\/stable and empathetic\/soothing. She coached me through, she comforted my worried husband, she fought for us when doctors pushed us towards anything different than our birth plan, and she celebrated well with us when our sweet daughter was born. And then she kept going. She met us at our house about a week later and again was a godsend in the midst of my trying to make sense of the birth, my emotions, hormones, etc. She and I continue to meet up as friends \u2013 I truly adore her spirit and her genuine love for me and my family. I imagine Jessica excels in any birth environment, but for me \u2013 having a non-medicated birth in a hospital \u2013 Jessica was THE perfect doula. I would recommend her a thousand times over for both her skill and for who she is. <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStacie and Kurt Kopczynski<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth Clients<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Jessica was an amazing doula before, during, and well after the childbirth experience. In fact my OB said she\u2019s one of the few doulas he really trusts in the Houston area. She was with me for over 12 hours in the hospital and got me and baby started on our breastfeeding journey which was extremely helpful because I was medicated and probably incapable of doing it by myself. Today we are still breastfeeding, 10.5 months later and going strong!\u00a0After we got home she came over a couple of more times to assist with breastfeeding and how to get a good household routine (breastfeeding, sleeping, etc.) going and her tips were vital to my survival since it seemed like total anarchy with a newborn. She got us through the weeds and was also available by phone as needed. She is knowledgeable, supportive, and very, very, encouraging. I give her so much credit in my journey as a new mother and she was worth every penny. <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBella Adela<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth Client and Rockstar Mom<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Jessica Gonzales is an excellent doula. We found her through our Bradley class back in May of 2012 and used her for the birth of our daughter in June. She was such a calming and soothing presence during our laboring at home, in the car on the way to the hospital, and during the birth of my daughter. She has such a gentle touch and reassuring voice. My husband and I were able to have the natural birth we desired, and feel that Jessica was a large part of this success. When we found out we were pregnant again, back in March 2013, we immediately sought Jessica\u2019s advice. We recently brought our son into the world, again, naturally. Jessica\u2019s presence at my labor and delivery bedside was invaluable. I again, sought out her voice during my contractions. She has such a calming nature. We were so pleased to find Jessica and could not imagine a birth without her. We also have enjoyed her Mother\u2019s Groups, family potlucks, and other events through Village Birth and Babies. It has really helped us create a nice network of new families here in Houston. <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tL and D Sirmans<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRepeat Birth and Placenta Clients<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t I really believe Jessica was one of the best things about my labor. Her hands were like magic. Jessica massaged me through every single contraction. She helped move me into different positions to ease my pain. I can\u2019t say enough about my Doula. Her presence allowed my husband to reduce his coaching duties and just be my an amazing husband since like most men he has little or no experience in childbirth. Instead, he was able to do what he does best, hold me, love me and be my strength at a very vulnerable time. I highly recommend Jessica as doula! Jessica Rocks! <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBreanne and Michael Barnard<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth Clients<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Jessica was a HUGE help in our birthing experience. I was hoping for a vbac and we were very successful after a long labor. Jessica was very patient and laid back during all my laboring hours. I remember my labor nurse praising Jessica while I was in labor. The nurse felt confident in all that Jessica was doing for me. She is very easy to talk to and does a great job in helping you make decisions that are best for you and your family. My husband and I can not praise her enough. I am so grateful for an all natural vbac success story! <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMonica<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tVBAC Birth Client<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t We hired Jessica after taking her birth class this past fall. We weren\u2019t sold on the idea of hiring a doula until we met her and took her class. At that time she was going to be on vacation on my due date, but was super accommodating by taking us on as clients and setting up a back up doula (whom we also met with) in the event she was out of town when we went into labor. Luckily we had our baby the day before she was set to leave! Jessica helped my husband and I have the pregnancy and delivery we imagined, and without her I\u2019m not sure if we would have made it. She is so down to earth and knowledgeable. She was always available by phone\/text\/email, and always responded quickly. She made me and everyone around on delivery day feel comfortable and safe. I recommend her to anyone that is thinking of hiring a doula. <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAlexandre Curie<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth Client & Childbirth Class Student<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t I met Jessica Gonzales about four months into my first pregnancy and truly believe she was sent as the answer to my prayers. Before my pregnancy, I had never heard the word \u201cdoula\u201d and honestly had never planned the type of birth I would want for my child. I knew I didn\u2019t want a medicated birth and that having an IV, epidural or C-section was not an option for me so long as my baby was safe without them, but I had no idea how to accomplish that kind of labor\/delivery especially when society pushes you to medicate. I truly believe that because Jessica was by my side, my prayers were answered. I had the most amazing birth experience that was even more magical than in my hopes and dreams. My pre-natal vitamin, a liter of coconut water and Jessica were all I needed to have a non-medicated, easy labor. I could not have had that experience without her. She is patient beyond words and so knowledgeable about seemingly EVERYTHING that I was able to relax and just enjoy the experience. I want to have another baby just so that I can go through labor again! I have an amazing support team of my husband and my family by my side, but the day I had my baby girl, I just wanted and needed Jessica there. She is the support and had the knowledge I needed to bring my precious little girl into our amazing world the way I wanted and the way I believe was best for us. Aunt Jessica, you will always be our guardian Angel! <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKrista Schuelke<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth and Placenta Client<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t My first baby was born by c-section, and when we were certain we were pregnant with our second, I knew that a) I wanted to try for a VBAC; and b) that we needed a doula. We interviewed a couple of other doulas besides Jessica, but after we both talked to Jessica, we knew that she was the perfect fit for us. She is professional in the best possible sense \u2013 completely calm, informed, and supportive of all our decisions. During prenatal visits, she really got to know me and my husband, and gave suggestions on preparing ourselves. She helped us think through many of our concerns (both with the labor itself and postpartum depression), and helped us take those concerns and shape them into a birth plan and a postpartum plan that would help ensure that we had the best birth (and postpartum) possible. I also appreciated that she knows the community, so she\u2019s ready with referrals if you need them. When labor and delivery actually came, we called Jessica during the wee hours of the morning. She had actually just come off of a very long labor and delivery (when we went to the hospital, she was saying \u201cHello again!\u201d to the staff. \ud83d\ude42 ). But you would have never known it from the invaluable support she gave us, including massage, aromatherapy, positioning, coaching, assurances that I was progressing (because I was!) etc\u2026. I ended up with the unmedicated VBAC that I wanted but wasn\u2019t sure was possible, and I know that Jessica played role in making that happen. Thank you!\u00a0Side Note: If you are considering placenta encapsulation, Jessica does that as well. With my PPD concerns, I wanted to give it a try, but wasn\u2019t sure how to handle the \u201clogistics.\u201d Jessica handled the whole thing seamlessly. <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAmanda Reyes<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tVBAC Birth and Placenta Client<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t I attended a discussion on doulas at the Birth fair, at which Jessica was participating as a panelist. Jessica\u2019s calm, yet enthusiastic, demeanor put her at the top of my list of doulas to interview in the following weeks, and ultimately made me choose her to help us through the birth of our first child. In addition to her easy going personality, Jessica is also very knowledgable about hospital and state policies (which helped us prepare our birth plan and not be surprised on the day of birth), is very respectful of your preferences, and works well in a hospital setting. Working with Jessica increased my comfort level as the big day approached (despite many unexpected circumstances), and also helped us better prepare for the first few weeks after deliver\u2013logistically and psychologically. As many births do, my experience strayed rather far from my original plan, but was still a very satisfying experience that successfully ended with a happy, breastfeeding baby, thanks to Jessica. When I first met with Jessica, I was planning on an uber-natural birth and had just learned that my OB had to comply with hospital policies that interfered with my preferences\u2013mandatory IV, labor restricted to the bed\/no walking around\/etc. and continuous baby monitor once the water breaks, and pitocin after birth. Despite loving my doctor, I was hoping to find a doctor that practiced in a more baby-friendly hospital that would take on my care at 26 weeks. I had been calling around for weeks with no luck. With Jessica\u2019s help I found a few doctors that would take me and I was meant to transfer a few weeks later, though they advised me to keep my next appointment with my original doctor so I didn\u2019t miss a prenatal visit\u2026and then\u2026 I had a stroke. I didn\u2019t know it was a stroke. I thought I was just having a migraine, or a bad headache, as happens to some people during pregnancy, even though it hadn\u2019t been happening to me. Luckily I had a prenatal appointment with my original doctor the next morning and she caught that something was off and sent me directly to a neurologist in the ER. In the next few days, at 28 weeks, I was diagnosed with an AVM (arterio-veinous malformation) in my brain, which had caused 3 aneurysms to form, and one to rupture. I am lucky-I didn\u2019t suffer any deficits, my baby was ok, and they were able to treat me so that I could carry the baby to full term. The only impact on my pregnancy was that I had to have a c-section as pushing during labor could cause further hemorrhaging. Jessica was very supportive during this time and we agreed to continue working with her even though I wouldn\u2019t be laboring. I found the prenatal discussions helpful and her questions made me think about things that hadn\u2019t occurred to me and talk about how I was feeling. Our birth plan was well received by the hospital staff and allowed for the birth day to go smoothly and without any surprises. Prior to being prepped in the OR, Jessica calmed me down with essential oils and massage. Ultimately Jessica was allowed into the OR with us and documented the whole procedure with photographs and was present to receive my placenta for encapsulation and to help me establish breast feeding as soon as possible. Her suggestions also made our birth even more memorable, including having my husband announce the sex of our baby. Long story short, I highly recommend Jessica Gonzales as a doula for birthing in any environment and I look forward to attending her group nights and other events soon! <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJessica and James Ciosek<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLabor and Placenta Client<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t I cannot say enough about Jessica Gonzales. I really believe that I would not have had such a positive labor experience without her. Throughout my pregnancy Jessica was available to answer any of my questions. She always answered her phone or would call me back immediately. She was great about emailing me about support groups and classes. During labor she helped me get into different positions during contractions in order to position my baby correctly. But moving into those positions helped me manage pain and stay focused. Jessica also provided labor message, which greatly reduced my discomfort during contractions. She kept me laboring at home for as long as possible so I spent very little time at the hospital before delivering. While at the hospital Jessica guided me through all the steps from my arrival to the delivery room and kept me informed about my progress. During delivery she helped me get comfortable and she stayed with me when my midwife had to leave to check on another laboring patient. After the birth of my baby Jessica stayed with me until I was comfortably settled into my room. Her presence was reassuring and supportive. Even now Jessica continues to stay in communication with me and my husband, keeping us informed about support groups and social opportunities with other new parents. Hiring a doula was one of the best decisions we made and Jessica is a superb doula. I would recommend Jessica to any future parents! <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJulie Dickinson<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLabor and Placenta Client<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Jessica Gonzales was an integral part of my birth and post partum experience. Even though I had an epidural with my twin delivery, she was still so comforting and helpful. I was never left alone or with a stranger because she was there, feeding me ice chips and easing my nausea with peppermint oil. She was encouraging while I pushed, and gave helpful advice. Afterwards, I had a friendly face to hold my hand and lighten my spirits while my husband went with my 32 week babies to the NICU. Jessica was also my post-partum doula, and I can\u2019t think of money better spent. She did laundry, washed bottles, made sure I ate, and watched my boys so I could take a walk, a shower, or a nap. My husband and I took Jessica\u2019s birth class as well. I was fairly knowledgeable beforehand, but being able to get on the same page with my husband was invaluable. Even though my labor was unusually fast, we both knew what to expect as I progressed. We also used pain management techniques learned and practiced in the class to ease my sudden and extreme contractions. My overall experience with Jessica was wonderful. I feel like I have gained a friend, and I would recommend her to anyone who wants to add to their birth experience. She truly loves what she does and it shows. <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMegan Hicks<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStudent, Birth and Postpartum Doula Clients<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t I believe that Jessica was BORN to be a doula. She combines the wisdom, expertise and compassion that are crucial, both during the birth of a baby and in the days leading up to (and after) this incredibly special life event. Pregnancy and childbirth are beautiful, soulful experiences, but they can be equally overwhelming and sometimes even a little lonely. After I met Jessica, I began enjoying my pregnancy in a whole new way. We\u2019d discuss diet and exercises to help the baby get into the optimal birth postion, but we also talked about my feelings around my impending motherhood and my deep fear of labor and delivery. She spent several hours with me and my husband, helping us understand our options, so we could articulate a comprehensive birth plan. I am terrified of pain, but was not sure I wanted an epidural, so we went over its pros and cons. When my contractions began, we labored at home for most of the day, confident that Jessica would get us to the hospital in time. (I entered the delivery room and my water broke!) My labor was long and tiring and there were several moments when we needed her guidance, to make the best choice for us. I am convinced that she helped us avoid a C-section, by pacing my energy and advising us on the most appropriate time to get pain medication. I am not sure how she managed to hold me, while I was laboring AND still take absolutely stunning photos of the birth, but she did! After my son was born, she assisted us with early nursing, which is a good thing, because I had been so preoccupied with labor and delivery, that I hadn\u2019t given a moment\u2019s thought to breastfeeding! But, amazingly, Jessica\u2019s support doesn\u2019t end with birth. She hosts an ongoing, weekly, postpartum group for her clients, which has been a fantastic space for me to meet other new moms and share the joys and challenges of parenthood. I am so grateful that Jessica was part of our birth story and that she continues to be part of our lives. <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDeepa Kamath<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth Client<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t You know you are in the big leagues as a doula when other doulas hire you to be their doula. When I started my journey as a doula, I began to reach out to other local doulas. She was the first to respond to me. When I finally started meeting other doulas, I would ask myself, \u201cWhich of these women would I want to be MY doula?\u201d At first I wasn\u2019t sure, but as time went on I gravitated toward Jessica. She has the best personality. I feel I can tell her anything and she wouldn\u2019t judge me. I look up to her as a doula and aspire to be more like her. She has been an all around great friend. She supported me as I started training for my first 5K and even ran it with me! It was just natural that I would want her to join me for my birth experience. I don\u2019t have enough words to describe how wonderful Jessica is, but there really aren\u2019t enough words good enough to describe her anyway. My prenatals were awesome because we talked about doula stuff. She provided a listening, understanding and non-judgemental ear as I talked about my worries and our latest family trial. My birth was super fast, and she was the perfect addition to my birth team. She went out and got us lunch from one of my favorite places after the birth (home birth) and made me a placenta smoothie. I feel blessed to know her! <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKristi Keen<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDoula Birth and Placenta Client<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t When I got pregnant with my third I doubted very much that I would be able to have a natural delivery. I found a really good ob\/gyn who supported a VBAC but still I knew that I needed more support. I met Jessica through work and she came round to our house several times to go through things and she reassured me my body was able to do this. I wrote my birth plan and was very excited when at 41 weeks I went into labor. After my contractions became regular and frequent in the early morning hours my husband called Jessica. Jessica was here within minutes and guided my husband and me. I was able to stay at home for a long time and working through the contractions for a good 12 hours. We went to the hospital when my contractions were 3 minutes apart but unfortunately we weren\u2019t as far as we had hoped to be. We continued to work through the contractions till the early morning hours and although there was a resident that tried to put a time restraint on my labor, Jessica remained supportive and talked us through every option. (It is invaluable when someone puts you and the baby at first priority and follows the wishes you had set in the birth plan, not the hospital that wants to move things along!). My healthy baby boy was born late the following morning. I never felt \u201cat risk\u201d after my 2 previous C-sections, Jessica (and the medical staff) kept an close eye on me. I was allowed to go as long as baby was happy and healthy even beyond 41 weeks. The natural delivery of my son was one of the most amazing experiences in my life! I was able to do it with support of my husband and the encouragement, support and hands-on approach of Jessica. I will remain forever grateful for this experience that wouldn\u2019t have been possible without Jessica. Thank you Jessica!! <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTanja<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth (VBA2C) Client<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Jessica is a truly amazing doula! She was so helpful throughout the pregnancy for both me and my husband, answering all of our questions and keeping us calm. We knew that we wanted extra help during the birth, and she was just the help that we needed! She came to our house shortly after labor started to help me manage the back pain I was having, allowing me to labor at home much longer than I would have on my own. She knew just when we needed to leave for the hospital, and she focused on me during the car ride, so my husband could focus on driving. She was the voice of reason and experience once we got to the hospital, and we trusted her to help us make decisions when we weren\u2019t at our full decision-making capacity. I really don\u2019t know how I would have gotten through the birth without her guidance and encouragement! If we ever have another baby, I will definitely ask Jessica for her help again! <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKatherine Wingfield<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth and Placenta Encapsulation Clients<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t We had a wonderful experience with Jessica! She was very accessible during the late stage of pregnancy and able to answer many questions as well as help me determine \u2018if\u2019 i was in labor or not. She helped us with exercises to encourage our baby in to a good position for labor and used massage and essential oil techniques which were amazing and so helpful! Most of all she encouraged my husband and I to make informative smart decisions that were best for the whole family working with the nursing staff, doctor staff and my family so beautifully. She made our experience such a wonderful, beautiful and happy moment in our life! We would use her again! <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHaley Jones<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth Client<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Jessica was my doula for my October 2012 birth. I had a bit of a rough road as far as changes in my birth plan (went from natural at a birth center to a planned C Section), and Jessica really helped me work through it. I loved how she visited me several times before the birth (the other doulas I interviewed only did 2 prenatal visits). My due date was in November, with the C section scheduled for the end of October, but the surgery was moved up 2 weeks due to fetal distress. Even though Jessica was just coming back into town, she made it to the surgery with only a couple hours\u2019 notice. She was with me during the surgery, and helped me get off to a good start breastfeeding (still going strong at 8 weeks). I credit Jessica as a large part of why my birth experience was so beautiful (yes, a C section can be beautiful). She helped me have the right attitudes and expectations, and made me feel very safe throughout the whole experience. I highly recommend every woman giving birth have a doula, and Jessica is definitely one of the best. <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLeila Hays<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth Client<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Jessica was our postpartm doula in Sept 2012. She was an absolute angel! Jessica has a wealth of knowledge concerning babies and mother care. She helped me with breastfeeding on the first day back home, helped my husband and I get some much needed sleep, brought me food during lunch and helped us with baby laundry. She gave me peace of mind. I am so thankful for all her help and encourage all first time parents to use her services! <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMarissa and Peter Xia<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPostpartum Clients<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Read their beautiful birth story here: \u201cBirth without fear is so incredible.\u201d<\/a><\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLindsey and Jared Krist<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth and Placenta Encapsulation Clients<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t We met Jessica in March 2012, towards the end of my second trimester. She was enthusiastic about our goal for a natural birth of our twins and was willing to help with positioning exercises of Baby A, who was breeched. She was thorough in getting to know us during our prenatal appointments, which helped us to feel even more comfortable with her. When I was put on bedrest at 30 weeks due to cervix changes, she remained optimistic yet realistic about how this affected our positioning exercises and our birth plan. Then when I was admitted to the hospital at 33 weeks due to severe pre-eclampsia, she remained calm and supportive as we realized that our twins would be premature and delivered via c-section. Jessica continued to educate us on our options, empowering us to make the choices that we felt were right for our situation. Even in the operating room, she was very reassuring. It was so comforting to have her constantly by my side all the way through recovery. My husband had to go be with our twins in the NICU. She was absolutely essential in helping me start my milk production right away, so our twins could be fed my milk in the NICU. I highly recommend her as a doula and will definitely be giving her a call for our next pregnancy. <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLuz Standridge<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth (Twins) Clients<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Mom\u2019s words: We met Jessica at our Bradley Method class, and desiring a natural hospital birth (as first time parents) decided that she would be a valuable part of our birth team. Jessica has a warm and caring presence, and from the beginning felt like a trusted friend. She made multiple home visits, got to know us as a couple and showed us exercises to help our posterior baby turn. I started having contractions at night, and the next morning when they were coming regularly and getting more painful, we called Jessica and she joined us at home. She knew just what to do to encourage my contractions into a solid pattern, and was able to guide me in relaxing properly through them. When I needed a break, she relaxed me with massage. I had bad back labor, and Jessica was there, applying pressure with each contraction. She was such an encouragement, staying with us until the end, and I know that my natural birth \u2013 which was the best and most empowering experience of my life \u2013 would not have been possible without her. She truly has a gift for doula work and we are so happy that she will always be a part of our son\u2019s birth story. Dad\u2019s words: The first time I\u2019d learned what a doula was\/does was when Jessica spoke at our Bradley Method class. Soon after, we met with her and decided that we wanted her help with labor and delivery. Admittedly, at first, (as the coach) I wasn\u2019t sure it was necessary to have help. I thought she would somehow get in the way or take away from what is to be the most special moment of my life. That changed with the first of several visits Jessica made to our home as she got to know us, which I really enjoyed. The day labor started, she arrived at our home, helped put us both at ease, and guided us through everything. At the hospital Jessica continued to help in so many ways. She ended up being the best support we could have asked for! I will always be grateful to Jessica for helping my wife and I welcome our son into this world. <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJessica Kravtsov<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth and Placenta Encapsulation Clients<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t We hired Jessica to help us with the birth of our first baby. Immediately after meeting her, we knew we definitely needed her there with us. Several times before the birth of our son, Jessica stopped by our house for a visit, to answer questions, give suggestions and in general just to lend a friendly ear and support. The day I went into labor Jessica met us at the hospital right away (in fact she beat us there), despite having a birth just the night before. Even though she was operating on NO sleep, she was there fully alert, even perky, through my 24 hour labor. Things didn\u2019t go as planned and Jessica was so warm and caring which made my husband and me feel so much better. As my husband stated after we had a beautiful baby in our arms, \u201cJessica Gonzales-BEST THING WE EVER DID, MONEY WELL SPENT.\u201d <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tErin Palmer<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth Client<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Placenta? Let\u2019s discuss something a little more conventional \u2014 coffee. I have always enjoyed a nice, warm cup of coffee, and most of us do. if it\u2019s not coffee, it\u2019s tea or even, the occasional diet soda. The problem is, it was very important for me to continue avoiding caffeine while breast feeding our newborn son (as i had during pregnancy). And while one does have the option of decaf \u2014 fatigue, exhaustion, and postpartum depression are real, and really hard to alleviate with\/without the presence of caffeine. It\u2019s difficult enough to walk through the post birth experience (new baby, no sleep, visitors, etc.) and doing so while persevering through raging hormones seems insurmountable at times. When Jessica spoke with our labor class about placenta encapsulation, I was interested but hesitant. \u201cThis is so strange,\u201d I remember thinking, but many of the benefits of placenta encapsulation far outweigh the hesitations I had. My husband was very supportive about having our baby\u2019s placenta encapsulated, and I am grateful we did so. Six months after taking that very first capsule, I am still experiencing the benefits of placenta encapsulation. The energy I receive is comparable to how I felt immediately following the non-medicated birth of our son \u2014 energized, enlightened and able-bodied. If you\u2019re considering the care of your body post-birth, consider placenta encapsulation, it could make all the difference in the world! <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCandice McNair<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPlacenta Encapsulation Client<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Without hesitation I recommend Jessica Gonzales as a doula. As a first time mother, the support she provided both before labor and delivery and afterwards was outstanding. I feel that I would not have been as confident going into the labor and delivery process without the education and advice that Jessica provided. On the actual day of labor, things didn\u2019t go as we initially planned however, Jessica was able to seamlessly alter our plans to fit the situation as it evolved. I believe I was able to have a quick delivery as a first time mom due to her invaluable advice and all the work that was done before and during the labor process. <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe E.D. Family<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth Client<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Jessica came to help us when we had our second baby. She spend about 4-5 hrs a day for about 8 days during the week. She has a very calming prescence about her and always put me at ease. Immediately she gave me some suggestions for nursing and each day helped me get more comfortable solving the problems I was having. In addition to nursing, she cooked, did laundry, went grocery shopping, helped with my toddler when I needed it and most importantly made sure that our baby and myself were well fed and taken care of. She truly has a gift with babies and it is clear how much she loves her job. When I was doing too much, she gently suggested I rest more and take advantage of her. It was this mentality that put me at ease so that I could nuture myself and enjoy the first couple weeks with our new baby. I would recommend her to anyone and although we didn\u2019t use a doula during our labor, I can imagine that she would be wonderful as a birthing coach. <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLauren Ziff<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPostpartum Client<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t I met Jessica when I was pregnant with my second child. My first child was an emergency c-section at 35.5 weeks. He spent 14 days in the NICU. I had a very traumatic birth experience and I wanted to avoid the same experience with my second. Since I had a c-section before, I would be going for a VBAC. My OB was very supportive. Jessica and I came up with a plan and my OB was on board for it. My water broke on July 4, 2011. Jessica had me labor at home. When the contractions were about 1-2 minutes apart (as I recall), we headed to the hospital. After a few more hours of laboring, my blood pressure rose and I had protein in my urine. We were given the option of a c-section. After discussing all options, we went ahead with the c-section. Even though my birth did not end up exactly as I have hoped, Jessica gave me the confidence that I had control; that I was calling the shots. She helped us through all the decisions, listened to us and the doctors and was there during it all. Without her help, I feel that it would have not been such an amazing experience. Jessica also encapsualted my placenta. I would highly suggest it. I battled low milk supply with my first child and gave up breastfeeding at 8 weeks. I am currently into my 7th month exclusively breast feeding Logan. Thanks to an amazing supply, I have donated over 600 ounces to 2 local Houston moms. I personally think it was due to placenta encapsulation and my wonderful birth experience. Again, Thanks Jessica\u2026 Love, Kendra, Chris, Christine, Andrew and Logan Dillard <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKendra and Chris Dillard<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth and Placenta Clients<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Jessica is an amazing doula and I\u2019m thankful for all the love and support she\u2019s given me and my family. Being a first time mom, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Jess stepped in and helped us prepare for pre and post delivery of our healthy baby girl, Isabella:) She\u2019s an expert at this and she guided us through the whole experience in a calm nature. I couldn\u2019t get Eric (daddy) to commit to the 8 week lamaze classes, so Jess came to the rescue and provided us with birth classes that we completed in one weekend. To me, it felt like my sister was at my side in the hospital because she never left my side. She was also much appreciated in terms of dealing with Eric \u2026.he was like the second patient and she kept our hospital room a calm and joyous environment for us both. After Izzy\u2019s birth we moved to Austin, but if I had stayed in Houston, she\u2019d be my doula for the next baby \ud83d\ude42 We love and miss you much, Jess!! God bless! <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tVeronica, Izzy & Eric Werner<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth Clients<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t I knew I wanted a doula from the very beginning and I knew I wanted to deliver naturally. Jessica helped educate me and my husband on labor techniques and relaxation during labor. She took the time to answer all our questions and educate us. She made us feel confident. On May 25, 2011 I went into labor she was there bright and early. My husband and I thought we were prepared, but I had no idea the pain I was going to endure. Jessica was my human epidural. I am still amazed at how she knew exactly what to do and where to massage during my contractions. If she had not been there I would have gotten an epidural 3 hours into it. She encouraged me, she helped me cope, she cheered me on, she got me through labor! This was my third child, but every pregnancy and labor is different. I am so grateful that I had her there. My husband and I will never forget her and the support she gave us to make our experience a wonderful, memorable one. <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCindie and Dave Vigil<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth Clients<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t In 2009 I gave birth to our 1st son and while he was nice and healthy, I left feeling like I had missed out on something. I desperately wanted to have my \u201cHoney, It\u2019s time!\u201d moment. So when I became pregnant again I decided this time would be different. On May 7th 2011 I gave birth to my son and my experience was so wonderful that I wish I could do it again. My birth experience left me feeling so satisfied and empowered. I am so glad Jessica was able to be a part of it! She was amazing, so full of knowledge and really encouraged me to stand up for what I had wanted out of my birth experience. She helped me to understand it was MY birth. Not the Dr\u2019s or hospitals. I was able to avoid an unnecessary induction; because my Dr wanted to go on vacation, and the birth I had was unforgettable. I can still feel myself in her arm rolling on the birth ball, completely relaxed, working through the contractions. Even when things got tough, she was there calmly bringing me back to my center. This was such a wonderful and intimate time for my husband and I, even with Jessica there. She was so supportive yet never once did we feel like she was taking over. I would encourage anyone to seek out a Doula for their birth and if you have the chance to work with Jessica, your birth is bound to be memorable. I would highly recommend her, she is very compassionate about what she does. Her tender personality, knowledge, guidance and support are exactly what a laboring mother needs! <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJamie Forrester<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth Client<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t I became a first time parent on October 20, 2010 to an 8lb 3 oz. baby boy. I read many theories about having a birth Doula as well as theories on natural childbirth. Since giving birth, I now understand that birth is unpredictable, but having a Doula is something I would bet on each time. I believe having that assistance helped reduce labor as well as create a positive and peaceful atmosphere. The service Jessica Gonzales provided was impeccable. She was innately in tuned with the needs of my husband and I during the entire process. She provided precious assurance and a level of support and encouragement that was priceless. Jessica gave constant encouragement. Whether it was a massage, a shoulder of support to the restroom, or assuring my husband and I that we were doing great. It was a relief to have her there. She was definitely a God send. In addition, she also acted as an advocate for my desired wishes even though at some point I was unable to communicate exactly what I needed. Jessica has what one does not see on a resume. She is passionate, intuitive, and very much apart of your present moments. She is a rare find. As a result, I feel a sense of deep gratitude towards Jessica for keeping the atmosphere so peaceful and comfortable. It was in that moment I realized the power of encouragement, and support. I will carry that experience for a lifetime. <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRebecca and Clifford Alexander<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth Clients<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Childbirth is submission in the truest sense of the word. You must trust someone with your life, values, and body. I was recommended to Jessica by another mother. Giving birth naturally was important to me. Having a team that respected that was equally as important. When I met Jessica, she was kind and honest. We hit it off instantly. She reassured me of my strength as a woman, and she told me what she provided. From that day I trusted her with the care of my body. I still wasn\u2019t sure of what to look forward to during my actual delivery. So, the day came, Oct. 15, 2010. Jessica was there bright and early. She delivered beyond all my expectations. She fulfilled her promises in regards to what she provides as a doula. She knew what I needed before I even said anything. She made me remember my strength. We even laughed during the process. I was a demanding laborer I\u2019m sure, and once everything calmed down, I noticed she was sweating. She was in labor with me. She wasn\u2019t on top of me, hounding me. She knew the space that I needed for comfort while still being aggressively attentive to my needs at the time. Postpartum care was amazing as well. She came by to make sure my breast feeding was successful. I had millions of questions, and she was there to help me along the way. Her suggestions were very helpful. I can honestly say that I could not have made it without her there. My experience would have been completely chaotic if I had to rely on my own self-assurance. She was so good that my midwife thanked me for bringing her, and wants to partner with her. When choosing a doula I realize that it\u2019s not about how it looks it\u2019s about how it feels. From the day we met, I felt Jessica\u2019s maternal instincts immediately. I knew she was meant to be a doula because she sincerely cares about childbirth, motherhood, and child care. When she touches my child, I am reminded of that every time. I will not hesitate to call her again when I have my next baby. <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDanielle M.<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth Client<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t My baby girl was born on September 20, 2010. I waited till today, Thanksgiving Day, to share my experience with Jessica Gonzales because of the heart filled gratitude I have for her. She was my first Doula and she help me tremendously from beginning. I met Jessica during the late part of my 2nd semester. From the start, she made me feel comfortable and at ease. Prenatal visits to house visits, Jessica was there. My delivery was the best. A natural coach who can keep \u201cyou\u201d focus as well as comfortable… this is her destiny and anyone looking for a GREAT Doula, she is the one! If I could do all over again, I would. A wonderful memory (Jessica). Since my delivery, I have recommended Jessica to several other women. I will never forget her. She is now and forever a gem in my family, for me and my new daughter. I love you Jessica and again, thank you! -HAPPY THANKSGIVING! <\/q>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBrittney W.<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth Client<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Testimonials<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/villagebirthworks.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7918"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/villagebirthworks.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/villagebirthworks.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/villagebirthworks.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/villagebirthworks.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7918"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/villagebirthworks.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7918\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/villagebirthworks.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7918"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}