Trust

If you look up in the dictionary the words trustworthy, dedicated, caring, humble and helpful you will find a picture of Leila. She is this and so much more. She served and continues to serve me and my family with all our needs and concerns. It all started with Heart2Heart Birth Center recommending my husband and I to her for birth classes. I remember putting it off for a while thinking what is there to know about birth that I can’t just read off the internet and boy was I wrong!! Our goal was for a natural vaginal birth. The internet was not preparing us mentally, emotionally and physically for this spectacular event. Leila took to heart all our expectations and dreams and guided us through them with evidence based information while giving us access to ALL the options that are available. She was patient and adapted her teaching skills to our learning abilities. In each prenatal visit making sure we understood the way the body naturally works and how each medical intervention could affect the birth process negatively if it wasn’t needed but also how it could benefit it if needed. Allowing us to have a broad perspective which this then helped us make educated decisions that we were confident about. She encouraged, respected and supported me wanting to listen to my body and baby. She would say things like “Allow yourself to truly connect with yourself, your body and baby will tell you what you need.” Being that this was our first baby, giving birth seemed like a scary process, so many unknown factors but with Leila’s prenatal classes and availability to answer all our questions, when the time came both my husband and I felt confident and safe about this beautiful, joyful and intimate process God made. We were no longer scared. So much so that I ended up having a percipitaed birth and gave birth in the comfort of our home with just my husband and Leila by my side!! The plan was to give birth at the birth center with a midwife present but my baby and God had other plans. Leila arrived to my house about 2 hours before my birth, helped me control my breathing and had me put my body in positions to ensure my pelvis stayed aligned and baby to stay in the correct position. Though these made the sensations of my contractions more intense I can honestly say they were exactly what I needed to allow the labor to progress. From the time the contractions intensified to the moment I gave birth I was in complete control and in tune with body and baby. After I gave birth Leila stayed with me for as long as I needed. She did my laundry, heated up some food for me, helped my midwife take me to the bathroom and was always on guard of protecting my emotional state. She then came 3 days later to check on me and helped with my breast engorgement when my milk came in. If it weren’t for her massage I’m sure I would’ve gotten a real bad case of mastitis. Her care and help does not end with her postpartum visits. We now have a friend, a confidant and special care for life! She has always been there to calm my nerves and give me possible solutions at anytime I have needed her. Has never failed to come through! My husband, baby and I will be eternally grateful to her and her devoted care to us.