Lucia Shepherd Doula

I would not have survived my 43 hr natural labor without Lucia. It was a marathon for both of us! I suffered through prodromal labor (Irregular contractions) for about 16 hrs, with contractions that were anywhere from 3 – 15 minutes apart that never became consistent. Two nights in a row, Lucia stayed with me to offer support with a TENS unit, a Rebozo scarf around my hips, getting me into the tub and encouraging me to walk and climb stairs to help active labor get kick started.
She also had me do some exercises to help turn the baby to the right position. She suspected that my unusual labor might be due to a posterior baby. We even made an emergency visit to the chiropractor to get my hips adjusted (was not bad at all, chiropractor had to pause between contractions). It was not too much longer after that when active labor finally started! She was able to keep me home laboring until I was nearly 7 cm dilated by the time we got to the hospital, minimizing the chances of interventions.
At the hospital, Lucia pulled out her bag of tricks for active labor — non-​flame candles around the room, lavender scent, citrus aromatherapy oils, walking the halls, suggesting positions for labor, etc. She also took pictures throughout my labor, which I really appreciated afterwards. When it came time to push, she suggested a tug of war method that, combined with the OB’s pushing suggestion, really helped to speed up the pushing part (I was still having slow contractions!).
When the baby’s head was finally out, she cried. She told me she cries at every birth — and that’s how I really know she really loves what she does (in addition to not sleeping for 48 hrs through my weird labor!). We both agreed it was a birth to remember! And, I could not have done it without Lucia’s support.

Lucia was our doula for our first born (Mar 2013). Once I met her, I knew she was the one to help us through labor. She is calm and such a team player. During the prenatal visits, she listened to what we want for our birth and she fully support our choices.
Our goal was to have a natural delivery and to labor as much at home as possible. She brought all her tools and techniques — including TENS, massage, breathing, oil, hot shower. She helped me throughout then night and stayed all the way until the baby was born until we had some bonding time. She even brought music, electric candles to make the hospital room more cozy.
She timed the labor PERFECTLY! We could not ask for a better timing. Once we arrived at the hospital, it’s pretty much at the end of transition stage and beginning of pushing stage. She actually came 2 times to support us at home since my labor stalled during the day.
Having her not only helped me through the birth, her presence and experience helped my husband also. We are both grateful for her service, skill and willingness to be a doula! We had a positive birth experience overall and one main part was because of her.

Lucia was my doula for the recent birth (Feb 2012) of my first child. Since I hadn’t experienced a pregnancy and labor/​birth before, and at the same time, wanted to have a natural childbirth without epidural, I was considering hiring a doula. At first, I was not sure whether it was worth it though, since hiring a doula is an additional cost (you know how expensive it could be to have a baby! :)) When my OB/​GYN at Women’s Care Medical Group encouraged me to have a doula, I made my decision, and found Lucia. I am very happy that I did!
First, let me give you some background info: I had quit my job before I got pregnant. So, throughout my pregnancy, I had time to exercise, and read various pregnancy and childbirth books to get physically, mentally and emotionally ready for the «big event.» I was extremely happy with my OB/​GYN and hospital (Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City,) and I was going to have both my mom and my husband with me throughout the labor and birth. So, you may think that I could have done just fine without a doula. I am not sure. All I know is that I had a great experience, and Lucia played a big part in that.
Lucia was great through every step of the way. During my labor/​birth, Lucia stayed with us the whole time as a calm and intuitive support person. She promptly responded my constantly changing needs during labor. (i.e. I wanted relaxing music in the background, then I hated it, or, at some point I was too cold and needed warm compresses, and later I was sweating a lot and only wanted cold compresses etc.) Lucia was also proactive in terms of making me do things that would help with labor such as walking, changing positions, taking a shower and breathing techniques. She also supported my husband and mom as they supported me. Last but not least, Lucia’s working relationship with the Sequoia nursing staff was great. I had a 13-​hour labor without any interventions. I am very fortunate to have had the birth I wanted, and I truly believe Lucia was a major part in that being possible. Lucia was also available after the birth. She helped me overcome some breastfeeding issues and was able to answer questions about newborn care. Whenever we decide to have a second child someday, I would hope to have Lucia as my doula once again.

We hired Lucia for the birth of our second child after meeting her through our hypnobirthing class, and I am confident that I was able to achieve the natural birth that I wanted through Lucia’s presence during my labor. I cannot write enough about Lucia and her abilities as a doula. She is not only knowledgeable but also compassionate and makes any expecting parent feel comfortable and confident in the birthing process. Lucia was familiar with and supportive of our hopes and vision for birth, and was instrumental in our fending off unnecessary medical interventions in the hospital, such as advocating for me to be allowed the time for my water to break naturally, even when our midwife wanted to break it after just one hour of active labor. Luckily my water did break on its own with some time, patience, and with the techniques and support that Lucia provided.
One of the greatest things about Lucia is how she included and supported my husband throughout the birthing process, which really made me feel like they were my team. Lucia was also a great source of calm, knowledge and encouragement throughout my labor. I especially remember that her direction helped me to push my baby out in just a few surges. Lucia reminded me to breath my baby down – when to breath, where to focus my energy – and that empowered me to do it, despite my midwife and nurses trying to get me back into bed, Lucia encouraged me to follow my natural urges, and I was able to deliver my baby standing up.
We are so happy that Lucia was part of the birth of our daughter, it was an amazing experience and we have no regrets or second guessing, we are confident that she would provide fantastic support for any expecting parent.

Lucia is an excellent doula! She was so supportive and caring and an excellent pregnancy and postpartum resource for my husband and I.
Active labor and transition can be a mentally, emotionally and physically challenging experience, and I’m so glad that we had Lucia’s expertise to help me stick to my goal of natural childbirth. My husband was grateful for the extra support and knowledge she brought during that long night.
After our beautiful son was born, Lucia paid us a postpartum visit to check up on us. I really appreciated being able to reflect and process the childbirth experience.
We wholeheartedly recommend Lucia’s doula services to any bay area expecting moms out there!