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 birth 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 R.

Eldrid was a compassionate, kind, thoughtful, and empathetic doula to usher us through the birth of our first daughter. She met with us early to put together a birth plan that really utilized our voice amongst a stream of medical jargon. And then, when our birth went 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 Y.

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 C.

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 M.

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 E.

We are really grateful for Eldrid. As first time parents with little familial support, it was important for us to find a doula that would provide encouragement, education and advocacy leading up to and during our birth. Eldrid put together a team of doulas that would ensure we would get the support we needed no matter when or where we gave birth. 

Our original plan was to give birth at a birth center, but multiple risk factors ultimately led us to an induction at a hospital. With Eldrid and her team’s expertise and dedication, we were able to advocate for ourselves amidst a stressful hospital atmosphere. Thanks to the awesome doula team, we were able to have the water break naturally and still have a vaginal birth, which was really important to us. 

Eldrid also made sure our baby had skin to skin time right away, and helped us lead our baby to their first latch. We really feel that these first moments out of the womb were so crucial and have helped our baby have a relatively uncomplicated time breastfeeding. 

Eldrid was great at checking up on us in the weeks after the birth. We are so grateful to have found a wonderful doula in her. Thank you, Eldrid! 

Brenda Y.

This was our first child so we were unsure if having a doula was even necessary, but I'm very happy we made the decision to have one. And we were very lucky to not only have found Eldrid but have her accept us even though we were financially strained. Leading up to delivery, Eldrid educated us and shared a holistic, loving and grounded viewpoint of childbearing that we really clicked with. She was never overstepping in boundaries or her opinions but at the same time always at the ready to help and get involved. We unfortunately experienced a huge change of plans that completely changed our birth plan from birth center to hospital, but the shift is what really made me appreciate and recommend Eldrid and the network she provided. Eldrid and her backup doula armed me with so much info to pushback against rushed and aggressive procedures that would have led to a cesarean birth. I would not have known what to say or what was even being pushed upon my partner if it wasn't from all the guidance from Eldrid. In addition, she armed us with the knowledge of certain medical equipment our hospital had that allowed us to be mobile and enter the tub where hospital staff was otherwise not informing us of options to help with natural labor. Having that info allowed us to prevent at least two unnecessary and potentially harmful procedures while at the same time made us feel secure about what procedures we did give informed consent to act on for mother and child. Eldrid and her backup doula were the knife that seperated what was medically needed for baby/mother and what was being pushed upon us to convenience the hospital's time. Lastly, Eldrid also would leave when we would tire and wanted to be alone together and immediately come back when we were ready for more help; a true partner during the birthing process. She even captured once in a lifetime moments of first skin on skin and cutting of the cord in the midst of it all! We wholeheartedly recommend her. Thank you so much Eldrid!

Julio T

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 C.

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 C.

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.

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!

Kristina

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 decided I needed an epidural after all. 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 even 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.