We immediately knew Eldrid was our doula after our first chat. She is warm, reassuring, and so well informed. Her “come as you are” approach and deep knowledge calmed our anxieties about our high risk pregnancy and delivery. Throughout the pregnancy, she gave us evidence-based resources and information without influence or judgment. She taught us how to advocate for our needs with our many medical specialists.
When we had to do a last-minute induction, she was at the hospital when we checked in to prepare the room. She warmly opened up a dialogue with us and the nurses about our needs as we progressed through labor. She had many physical and emotional tools to carry us through each contraction, all while ensuring nurses were giving us space to labor as we wanted to. She was a firm, clear, and kind advocate for our birth plan. Eldrid remained at the hospital with us for 24 hours up until the baby came and only left once we were settled into our postpartum room.
As our postpartum doula, she continued to teach us new things and empowered us as new parents. She also makes the best soups and other recovery foods! Our family is very grateful for everything she’s done for us, and we rexommend her for anyone having their first baby.
— Caitlin
It is hard to overstate how wonderful of a person Eldrid is. Beyond her qualifications as a doula, Eldrid is such a warm, caring, and comforting individual. She is the exact person you want to guide you through your birthing journey - just so knowledgable, and there to cheer you on every step of the way, without judgement and with a presence that instills calm. I was unbelievably picky about who I was going to have on my care team and interviewed a number of doulas before we spoke with Eldrid and everything clicked right away! Her experience was exceptional and we loved that she had helped other birthing couples at the hospital we were going to deliver at. Every conversation and pre-birth session felt very validating and I entered my last weeks of pregnancy with so much more confidence than I had at any point previous. She listened to my fears, my concerns, my intentions for my birth and helped me work through all of it and come up with a plan and contingincies. When the day finally arrived, she was with us every step of the way, from the time my water broke in the middle of night to our arrival at the hospital and until delivery. She was able to set up the room and provided much needed guidance as I moved through the different stages of labor, helped me reason through my options when the staff suggested different interventions, and gave my partner relief. I credit her for making sure my birth was one I look back on positively. Even in the postpartum period, her check-ins were invaluable - making sure I was resting adequately and getting the nourishment I needed. The recipes she shared are some we still make to this day! I truly cannot recommend Eldrid's services enough.
— Kali B
Eldrid was amazing. She is a wonderful doula who made me feel prepared and supported, before, during and after my labor. When I first met Eldrid at a coffee shop, she greeted me with her warm spririt and the enthusiasm she carries for her work. I immediately felt comfortable and more at ease as my due date approached.
My husband and I are first time parents. The learning curve is steep and Eldrid supported us every step of the way. Our pre-birth sessions were informative and filled with practical tips, education, and a game plan as we awaited the birth of our son.
During the birth, Eldrid was a godsend. I felt calmer, the room felt calmer, because Eldrid was there. She was great with repositioning me to encourage my labor to progress. She was hands on with massage throughout the whole birth. After the birth, she was wonderful about checking in and visiting our home to make sure we were settling in well. I can't recommend Eldrid enough.
— Lauren L.
I feel incredibly lucky to have had Eldrid as my birth doula by my side through the birth of my first child. She is such a kind soul and made me feel incredibly supported during my pregnancy, through the birth itself and postpartum. During my pregnancy we met two times and she helped guide me through what to expect and gave me so many helpful resources. She also provided a different perspective than a pediatrician or a Mom’s group coming from a place of experience, wisdom and her genuine hope that you have the best experience with your baby. I really appreciated that these conversations came without any judgment to our personal preferences. I had such a positive birth experience despite it being nothing like what I had expected or planned for. Eldrid was kind and caring and made it feel special. She has a genuine warmth about her and I am so thankful she was in the room that day. From a postpartum perspective, Eldrid was also there for me. She provided her personal blend of loose leaf sitz bath and postpartum tea. In our postpartum conversation, she was the person who talked some sense into me about the importance of rest. She recognized my exhaustion and the toll it was taking on me mentally. As a very independent person, this conversation helped me let go of my guilt around asking for help and a big turning point for me. After having issues breastfeeding, she was also able to recommend an excellent lactation consultant. Having Eldrid by my side felt like having a wise, experienced family member in my corner. Someone who relied on experience, data, and instinct. She is simply the best.
— Gabby A
Eldrid was a dream doula! I waited until pretty late in my pregnancy because I was on the fence about whether or not I wanted a doula. I figured I would chat with a few and see if anyone felt right, and immediately I knew I wanted to work with Eldrid. She had such a calming presence and throughout the entire process really empowered us to feel confident in our intuition and choices. I was doing a hospital birth and wanted to try to be unmedicated as long as possible, but open to an epidural if needed. She fully supported my wishes and I am confident there is NO way I could have made it unmedicated as long as I did without her!! She stayed by my for almost 20 hours while I labored and made me feel so comfortable and cared for the entire time. I would absolutely recommend Eldrid to someone looking for a calming, caring and experienced doula!
— Lauren leggett
While we were in delivery, preparing to meet our son, my husband said the words that summed it up best, "Eldrid is like having family in the room without having the stress of having family in the room." Hiring Eldrid O'Driscoll as my doula was one of the best decisions I made during my pregnancy. I knew I wanted a doula to be my support and advocate in the delivery room as I was afraid of being steamrolled by hospital staff. Little did I know, at least half of Eldrid's support came in the months leading up to delivery, offering innumerable educational tools and resources about birth. She introduced me to Spinning Babies, which helped prepare my body for birth, and was always there to answer my questions about any little thing that made me anxious, all the while offering the soothing comfort that I needed from a kind, experienced mom. By the time I was ready to deliver my son, I felt like I was as well-prepared as I possibly could be, and that was all thanks to Eldrid. While I didn't meet my goal of delivering unmedicated, Eldrid supported me every step of the way from the moment I had to be induced, to when my water broke, to when (20 hours in) I finally decided I needed an epidural. And as a bonus, in addition to being a wonderful, supportive resource for me, she was just as amazing and helpful to my husband. He and I went into pregnancy terrified, feeling like fish out of water, and came out the other side of the experience relieved, grateful, and empowered. I truly cannot say enough good things about her; Eldrid was a huge part of what made my birth a positive experience, and I would hire her again in a heartbeat.
— Laura B
I cannot speak highly enough of Eldrid's invaluable support during my postpartum recovery. After my C-section, she became an indispensable part of our household, seamlessly managing tasks that allowed me to focus on healing and bonding with my newborn.
Eldrid not only cooked delicious and nutritious meals that nourished our family (by the way, she makes the BEST lactation chocolate chip cookies and tapioca pudding), but she also ensured our home was consistently tidy and organized. Her attention to detail in laundry and housekeeping meant I could rest without worry. The soothing massages she provided for my feet, shoulders, neck, and hands were incredibly therapeutic and helped relieve the tension that comes with new motherhood.
Beyond the physical care, Eldrid went above and beyond by taking expert care of our baby, allowing me precious moments to nap, shower, or simply take a solo walk for much-needed self-care. Eldrid's understanding and compassionate demeanor made me feel supported and understood during those overwhelming first weeks as a new mom. I remember when I had my first experience with breast engorgement. I was terrified and texted Eldrid, and she immediately knew the fix and brought over some cabbage leaves to help manage the pain.
Eldrid's dedication to both my baby's well-being and my own was evident in every interaction. She listened attentively to my concerns and offered invaluable guidance and reassurance. Her nurturing presence not only eased the transition into motherhood but also fostered a sense of confidence and empowerment in my new role.
I am profoundly grateful to Eldrid for her unwavering support and expertise during a pivotal time in our lives. Her professionalism, kindness, and genuine care have left an indelible mark on our family's journey. I wholeheartedly recommend Eldrid to any parent seeking compassionate and knowledgeable postpartum care. My family misses her greatly!
— Abby D.
My husband and I cannot recommend working with Eldrid enough! As first time parents we were so grateful to have her as part of our village in the early weeks as we settled into a routine and got to know our baby and ourselves as parents. She was gracious with her time in advance, speaking with us on the phone and meeting in person to ensure we were all comfortable and to learn about us and our home.
We had the pleasure of working with her for about 6 weeks and everything from helping with all things baby (diaper changes, soothing, tips on ways to hold her, etc.) to sharing nourishing meals and recommendations on books and other providers in the area we could benefit from working with Eldrid was whole person/family care. She eases your way in this new space and helps guide you as you learn and become confident with your child.
Look no further!
— Taylor M.
I cannot say enough good things about my postpartum time with Eldrid. From our initial phone call, I resonated with her calm, warm, and supportive energy — which was ultimately exactly what I needed after a week spent in the hospital for a long induction and unplanned c-section.
Eldrid is an excellent cook, whipping up delicious and nourishing recipes she suggested for recovery, or meals with whatever we had in the fridge at times. She was also amenable to running out for groceries if we were missing a particular ingredient.
Eldrid provided gentle and encouraging guidance for breastfeeding when my baby and I were first establishing our rhythm. She would also seek out additional information and resources from her network of colleagues if she did not have the answer to one of my questions about anything baby or care related.
Further, while she will tell you she is not a licensed massage therapist, she nevertheless has a professional's touch :) And most importantly, Eldrid is a strong and sensitive empath. She checked in regularly on my and my partner's wellbeing while lovingly doting on our newborn son as we adjusted to the early days of parenthood.
Anyone working with her will be lucky to be in her care — I'm just sad that I can't refer her to my friends in Los Angeles as she makes her transition up north to Oregon!
— Kristina
Eldrid guided me through the birth experience twice – my first time in the hospital and my second time at home. While the birth experiences could not have been more different, Eldrid guided me seamlessly, lovingly and effectively through each one. Eldrid possesses a unique combination of fierce authority alongside a deeply compassionate heart. She guides and nurtures you through brith with a level of experience that instills confidence and trust, while also knowing just when to hold your hand or speak words of much-needed encouragement. She exudes warmth and empathy in every interaction – whether pre-, during or post-birth. She is also a wonderful listener – always willing to incorporate new tricks and methods to ensure that she is optimally speaking the language of her client. Words will never properly express how much I needed and appreciated her through both of my births.
— Mia
Eldrid was our doula for the birth of our daughter. She exudes calmness and gentleness - and is an incredible person. Eldrid came through when things went sideways with our home birth plans. She didn't miss a beat and was at my side through it all. She is very compassionate and deeply empathic and has a great sense of humor. We felt honored and blessed to have had her help our child enter our lives and world. She was just as excited to meet her as we were and my birthing process took 55 hrs!! Eldrid was at my side THROUGH IT ALL.
She even gracefully navigated my supreme physical exhaustion at the end when I was barking orders to folks. She was a calming rock at my side, even after 55 hrs. She deserves a medal! She's become a dear friend and has helped us navigate the world of homeschooling as well. She goes above and beyond her job description.
— Nicole
I was so grateful to have Eldrid with me during my pregnancy and labor. Eldrid was a calming presence while I was going through something new and scary. Even though she was nowhere near old enough to be my grandmother, I got a very grandmotherly feeling from her. She is warm and thoughtful and grounding. She stuck with me for all 37 hours of my labor, both at home and in the hospital. I don't know how I would have done it without her. I trusted her so much I asked her to help me decide what to do when the doctor started grumbling about a c-section (he probably had dinner reservations). I would 100% hire Eldrid again if I were ever crazy enough to have another kid.
— Daisy
Eldrid was exactly the doula that I needed during my childbirth with my daughter. Her gentle, caring demeanor and thoughtfulness helped get me through my labor. My labor wasn’t especially challenging, but that in part was due to the fact that I had Eldrid there, attending to my needs. Her presence- helping with my breathing, helping read my affirmations, helping keep my husband in check, and helping with my 2 year old son, was vital to my birthing process. I wholeheartedly recommend Eldrid as a loving, supportive doula.
— Brandi
Eldrid was a compassionate, kind, thoughtful, and empathetic doula to usher us through the birth of our first daughter. She met with us early and often to put together a birth plan that really utilized our voice amongst a stream of medical jargon. And then, when our birth when wildly unpredictable, Eldrid was in the OR ushering me through a cesarean, 5 weeks early, that I never imagined would be our path. She stayed with me through every step of the labor, the surgery, and the recovery. I could not have managed the emotional rollercoaster that we were on without her. Nearly 10 years later I think about her presence often with such love and gratitude. There was no one who could have managed such unpredictability better.
— Nell
