Reviews

The families I've supported say it better than I could.

Jennifer was the first person I called and she instructed me to call our midwife. I was experiencing a tremendous sharp pain almost like an appendicitis along with what I perceived to be labor pain. Having had four other children I knew this pain was not normal. Jennifer stayed calm and kept me calm while I lost my breakfast in the bathroom sink. Once at the hospital, she continued to help me to breath correctly so I could stay focused. My midwife informed me that I was suffering from a placental abruption which was why I was in triple pain and I would need an emergency c-section. I was freaking out but Jennifer quickly brought me back with massage and calm words of encouragement and reassurance. She also helped my husband to be instrumental at relieving some of my pain. Once out of the delivery room it was time to pump for the baby and Jennifer was right there cheering me on. To watch Jennifer in action is extremely inspiring as she truly loves and is passionate about what she is doing. It takes a special person to actually assist in helping moms birth their babies however they are born and she truly is a special person.

Jen has twice been my doula and it was an irreplaceable experience. Both pregnancies my needs were different. I needed a lot of physical support during a long first labor and birth. Jen was with us for days assisting and supporting labor. During my 2nd pregnancy, I needed a lot of emotional support. Jen was right there offering Zoom, phone calls, or in-person depending on my preferences. She also provided a safe place for my husband to text or call when he was stressed with a hormonal wife or had concerns. We love that her doula support assists the whole family uniquely!

Jen served as the student midwife throughout my first pregnancy and home birth and she was a perfect addition to our birth team. Jen has a way of making you feel like you have been best friends forever and provides such a calm and confident reassurance to the birthing family. I'd happily work with Jen every chance I get, and I look forward to seeing her smiling face around Columbus.

From my years partnered in The Ohio Doulas.

Working with Jen and The Ohio Doulas was one of the best decisions my husband and I made, especially as it was our first pregnancy/birth. They helped us know what to expect and what our options were. We really appreciated their experience and knowledge. Having Jen there with us during labor and delivery to support us was invaluable. Thank you, Jen!

Thank you Jen for a great experience with Ohio Doulas. During my pregnancy I found myself very anxious about giving birth and all of the uncertainty involved. My pre-birth meetings with Jen helped a lot in mitigating my anxiety and giving me the vocabulary to articulate my goals as I prepared for birth. The meetings helped my spouse and me have important conversations that made the birth planning process smoother and less overwhelming. When it came time to give birth, I was empowered to articulate my wishes and stay true to my priorities. Jen was extremely reassuring and comforting during my birth, and The Ohio Doulas have also been extraordinarily supportive afterwards. They validated and encouraged me when I was struggling with breastfeeding and I feel like I can go to them at any point with struggles or questions. They always answer questions compassionately with research to support. We greatly appreciate the Ohio Doulas and would recommend them to any friends expecting a child!

I worked with The Ohio Doula for my second birth experience and couldn't recommend them more highly. Jen attended my prep appointments and birth and was absolutely critical to the empowered experience I had, from setting the right atmosphere for myself in the hospital, to providing physical support and assistance to my husband when I needed him, to lending a confident and gentle ear to my concerns as they arose. Every medical decision I made was with reduced anxiety with her by my side, and I achieved the water birth I hope for despite PROM and an induction. [...] I would trust them again in a heartbeat. Everyone deserves birth support this intuitive and fantastic!

My wife and I had our first child this year. It was a tricky pregnancy and an even trickier labor. Jen Bailey was our primary doula. My wife was in labor for 67 hours total, most of which happened at home. Jen never left her side. We made up the guest bed for her and she stayed all night helping my wife to relax through contractions. In summary, we absolutely could not have gotten through the pregnancy and labor without The Ohio Doulas. Thank you Jen!

I had a wonderful experience with The Ohio Doulas. I did not have a doula for my first, and I really wish that I had! For my second baby, they were there for me whenever I needed it—and I needed them a lot to help get me through my prodromal labor. When progressive labor did start and it became clear that the baby was poorly positioned, Jen did everything possible to help us move him. [...] I highly recommend them!

Jen is amazing. I don't know how I would have made it through labor without her. She helped me think through my hopes and desires beforehand, and then graciously and calmly helped me navigate choices when my plans went out the window during labor. She is so knowledgeable and reassuring. I felt genuinely cared for. My husband was also very grateful for her presence and expertise. She advocated for me with the nurses at riverside for really practical things like getting to use the shower during labor, without causing tension. I couldn't have asked for a better experience with a doula as a first time mom. I highly recommend her!

My wife and I had the pleasure of working with Jenn and The Ohio Doulas and I can't imagine what we would have done without their help. We had recently moved to Ohio and did not have a network in place to help with the birth and they filled the support role for us perfectly. They helped us identify our birth priorities and figure out what we needed to do during the birthing process while we were in a panic. [...] Things went so well that we were able to labor for the most part at home where my wife was most comfortable. We definitely intend to use them again when our next child is due (way down the line).

Jen and The Ohio Doulas are very caring, helpful, and knowledgeable about pregnancy, birth, and postpartum issues. They met with my husband and me twice before the birth, sharing information with us and helping us pinpoint our birth preferences. They also met with us once after the birth to check up on us and make sure we were doing okay.

From my years as a hospital doula with the Mount Carmel St. Ann's doula program.

Hi Jenn,

I don't know where to begin to thank you for being part of Gloria Sophie's birth. Your presence, guidance, expertise, comfort...made all the difference in the world. You helped us stick to our birth plan and adapted to our hypnotist have lingo with ease. I honestly don't know how any woman could go through birth without a doula like you.

I would like to offer my birth story or recommendation to help the doula program. Whatever I can do to help, I will.

Thank you again from the bottom of my heart.

Best,
Aly, John and Gloria Romot

I gave birth less than a week ago to my sweet little M., and Jennifer was my doula. From minute 1, my birth was opposite my plan...I shockingly had to be induced due to low fluids. I didn't even know this was a possibility, so going in for my routine 40-week appointment, I had no idea I'd be rushed into the hospital only an hour later.

Jennifer arrived right after I got into my room and after explaining everything to her, she was so supportive and encouraging. She knew my plan for natural child birth and did everything to help me along the way. Unfortunately I had a mental (and physical!) block from my last traumatic pregnancy & birth and I truly believe this was hindering the progression of my labor as well as making me terrified for things like rupturing water, etc. I was tense, sad and scared and Jennifer made me feel comfortable and supported when I decided to do an epidural to ease my anxiety. The second the epidural hit, even though I originally wanted to go without it, Jennifer made me believe this was the right decision for me, and I immediately felt comfortable. My labor progressed rapidly and she helped me through the transition struggle, the actual birth and the post-birth symptoms I experienced. She even stayed afterward and talked us through everything and was just so encouraging and wonderful.

I actually did not hire the doula that I had for my first 2 births because I felt I had let her down with my second labor, and with Jennifer it was the complete opposite. I feel so lucky and privileged for having her as part of my childbirth.

If it were not for my doula my birth would have been far more painful & intimidating! [...] My doula was truly the best part of my birthing experience.

Jennifer Bailey received a Mount Carmel Foundation Guardian Angel Award, recognizing exceptional care.

I wanted to personally reach out in regards to my Doula Jen. I had my baby on February 20th and she was the Doula I ended up having.

I wanted to share my story with you because she was absolutely AH-MAZING and such a blessing in disguise!!

I arrived at the hospital around 1130 and got admitted because I was 4 cm dilated. They moved me to a delivery room with tub and said they would call the Doula on call and they would arrive shortly. I said ok (I am a first time mother so I wasn't sure exactly what to expect. I just knew that I wanted to have a natural delivery and my sister recommended a Doula. I ended up not going to any of the meet the Doula nights due to schedule conflicts).

[...] About an hour later, Jen showed up. I had progressed to 6-7 cm so I was able to finally get in the tub. Jen started pouring water down my back while I had (what I thought) strong contractions. My husband later told me all he was thinking about was 'we paid to have some lady pour water down my back'. After about an hour, I was ready to push, so the nurse told me I had to get out of the tub because they would not do a water delivery. When she checked me, I was 8-9 cm and it wasn't time to push. I had to go to the bathroom, but couldn't physically go and I kept saying I was ready to push. The nurse called my Dr and she said that she could come break my water to speed things up, but the pain would intensify. Jen knew I was thinking about it and could tell I didn't know what I wanted to do... she told me I could tell them I wanted to think about it and we could call my Dr back. So that is what I did. In the next few moments, I considered getting an epidural, so they could do a catheter (and it wouldn't hurt) and then my Dr could break my water and it wouldn't be as painful... well that wasn't God's plan for me, as he knew how important a natural birth was to me and my self determination that I COULD DO THIS! And at that moment, my water broke on its own and I knew there was no turning back. So the nurse called my Dr and she was on her way.

In the middle of all of this, my contractions were getting MUCH stronger and Jen taught my husband where to place his hands to apply pressure to alleviate the pain. He and Jen applied pressure every time I said 'now' and it was amazing how much it helped with the pain! She had me do different positions to help with the pain and to help me progress to 10 cm, since I wasn't quite ready to push (even though I wanted to!) Finally my Dr showed up and checked me and it was go time! She was super helpful, staying by my side, talking to me, encouraging me, and helping me with the pushing. At one point, I guess it looked like my husband was going to pass out, so she kind of stood in between him and the action to help him get through with out passing out. As I was pushing, I got to a point where I was done, I couldn't push anymore... the baby was crowning and she, my husband and Dr all kept encouraging me and saying 2 more pushes, we can see him! He ended up getting stuck (shoulder dystocia) and my Dr had to do an episiotomy to help get him out since I said I was done but had to keep pushing.

She was so encouraging and I truly feel that if it were not for her, I would not have gotten through my labor and delivery naturally! She is beyond amazing and I truly believe that God put her with me because he knew she was exactly what I needed to get through! She was my true blessing in disguise!

I can not say THANK YOU enough to her for the tremendous help she was! And for taking time away from her family to help me get through my delivery! She didn't have to, as she was not on call and could have said no. I remember her saying she was taking a nap with her son and had to leave him to come. She is truly an amazing person and my hero! I told her I was going to find her for my next kid! So I am praying that I have God with me again and she happens to be the Doula on call when I go into labor!

As for my husband... The comment above has importance in this whole email because once L. was here, he felt completely different about Jen. He too said she was amazing and helped him to help me and that it was the best money spent! And he was so thankful she was there with us, as he had no clue what to do to help me get through the delivery. She was able to guide us both and I have spoke very highly of her to everyone I tell about my delivery. And I recommend a Doula to anyone giving birth at St Ann's.

So I cannot say THANK YOU enough to Jen for her help with my delivery. I am extremely grateful to her and know that without her, my delivery story would have been completely different! So thank you very much for everything. She is beyond amazing and I am truly lucky to have had her in the delivery room with me!!!

[...] Thank you again to Jen! She is truly wonder woman and I cannot thank her enough for taking time away from her precious family to get me through my labor. She is a truly amazing person, mother and Doula! Thank you very much!!

Sincerely, Amanda H.