Review of Doula: Molly Raynor- long but thorough
First to give some background information about myself: I am 38 years old, mother of four, two high risk pregnancies, used Molly for three out of the four births.
Note: I do have a great husband who helped me throughout the pregnancy and birthing process but he would even say Molly helped in ways he couldn't enter into nor wanted to-
1st Pregnancy/ Delivery: 2015
I did not used a doula for my first pregnancy/birth because I thought I could handle the pain, the process, the unknowns because I was a student athlete in college; but I was naive and foolish. I did not education myself on the birth process, options available nor any postpartum possibilities. It was an incredibly difficult pregnancy with intense nausea and poor eating and exercise habits. In labor and delivery the baby was stuck on my pelvic bone, it was three hours of pushing, throwing up, and almost ended in a c section but the doctor used a vacuum to pull baby out. Recovery was a long road and the memory of it all felt like a train wreck.
2nd Pregnancy/Delivery: Macon, Ga. 2016
I called Molly right after a positive pregnancy test. This pregnancy was much better because we monitored my diet and exercise so I could handle all the ups and downs of nausea and appropriate weight gain. At 20 weeks this pregnancy turned into high risk as the baby had a spot on her kidneys. Molly helped me navigate the unknowns of going to obgyn and high risk doctors. At 34 weeks baby tried to come and I was sent to the hospital for steroid shot and bed rest, Molly was there with me through this process. Finally at 39 weeks baby girl decided it was time to meet everyone. Molly made the 2 hour drive to Macon, GA from Atlanta, GA to assist me. It was an uneventful birth of 12 hours. I was planning on going natural but the pain caught up with me and I ended up with an epidural and a baby an hour later. Molly comforted me in that I wasn't any less than a mom because I made a change in my birth plan. I had a lot of guilt about this that she helped me shift through. She held me through the epidural and then attended to the baby post birth to make sure all the nurses and doctors followed my birth plan exactly. She became what I found most helpful as my "external thinking brain" because during the pains of labor and post birth highs, I was in my own world; Molly was the one who kept me balanced and helped the staff stay on track to my wishes.
3rd Pregnancy/Delivery: Cartersville, Ga. 2021
Again, called Molly as soon as we knew we were pregnant. This time I knew I wanted an unmedicated birth and expressed that earnestly. Molly quickly and thoroughly got me resources to watch, read, listen to so I could prepare my body and mind. She would send me videos, I would put in the mental and physical effort to obtain my goal. This pregnancy went by fast, maybe with other two kids in full swing of life. But found myself at 38 weeks with contractions every 20 minutes apart and headed to see my midwife. She confirmed I was in active labor and sent us to the hospital. Molly kept my labor from stalling by using different techniques: birthing ball, walking halls with me, rubbing backing during contractions and many other options. With my water breaking, I quickly went from 8cm to 10cm to pushing. Molly worked with my midwife to think through different pushing positions to help baby. Finally after 30 mins of pushing, I held my baby. Molly again took over watching baby and making sure what I wanted on my birth plan was followed, nothing more, nothing less.
Fourth pregnancy/delivery: Rome, GA. 2025
This was my hardest pregnancy, maybe due to age, the unexpected positive pregnancy because of a blood clotting disorder and the fact of older kids and their activities.
Again, I saw a high risk doctor and an OB. We planned for another unmedicated birth by watching videos, listening to audio books, and walking through all the details we could forsee and control. With a more serious situation of my blood clotting we walked more thoroughly through c section possibly, my wants, my goals, the medicine I can and can't have and the NICU possibilities.
I started having consisent contractions at 36 weeks and went on bed rest. These contractions stayed and made rush to the hospital a few times. Finally at 39 weeks 4 days, my water broke and was 5cm. Molly and I did everything we could to progress labor with many different stretches, poses, walking, miles circuit, and yet after 18 hours, I hadn't progressed any but was exhausted from the intense but irregular contractions. My gut told me baby was stuck on my pelvic bone and I couldn't keep going without an epidural. With a long conversation with Molly and the labor and delivery nurse, I knew it was what was best for me. Molly held me again during the epidural and they positioned me so baby would descend and within an hour I was pushing. Molly and the labor and delivery nurse worked together to put me in the best pushing positions. Again, post birth, Molly instantly attended and followed the baby around. Molly helped me a lot post partum this pregnancy as the baby blues were very strong and overwhelming. I could call and talk with her anytime. She encouraged me of the good things, listened to me express my sadness of not being pregnant and just helped me navigate waters that I thought I could cross by myself.
Personal aspect:
Molly not only became a source of strength for me each pregnancy but a comfort that she would advocate for me and my baby. Having her by my side gave me confidence to approach the unknown and yet allowed us to control the controlables.
I can't recommend her enough, she knew when to be serious, when to make me laugh, when to be firm with me and the hospital staff, and when to let things be.
Note other things she did worth mentioning:
Came to my OB appointments to meet my midwife and doctors.
Toured all three different hospitals with me to know where and how to get to labor and delivery.
Made a hospital labor and post delivery snack bag.
Made texting groups for family and friends to keep them posted on labor and delivery.
Handed out copies of my birth plan to labor and delivery staff.
Helped me with postpartum blues.
Helped me with breastfeeding techniques and proper latch.
Gave me a post partum visit each pregnancy to check on me and baby.
- Page A.
