Letters from Past Clients and Students
(A Work In Progress)
Maureen is a super Bradley teacher and a wonderful doula. She has been my teacher, my mentor, my doula and my friend over the course of the past 8 years, as I had my first baby in the hospital, became a Bradley teacher myself, and went on to have three home births. I only regret that I didn't hire her for my first birth....it might have turned out differently!
Marci O'Daffer, CCE, ACCP ~ student in 1994
http://www.kalico.net
***********************************
I will always be grateful for Maureen's Bradley natural childbirth class. Her classes gave us the education we needed to get through the labor and delivery process with a great deal of confidence. In fact, my second child would probably have been accidently born at home if it wasn't for Maureen's instruction about the different stages of labor. My husband was able to recognize that I was in transition (almost ready to give birth), even though the nurses at the hospital were telling us over the phone that they were convinced that I was "not far enough along" and were encouraging us to wait to come into the labor and delivery ward. My husband insisted that we were going to come in NOW. It was a five minute drive to the hospital, and my son was born twenty minutes after we arrived. Whew! We just made it! Maureen was a great instructor and made the class interesting and enjoyable. She was also very supportive both before and after the birth - thanks again, Maureen!
Barb, mother of 3, student in 1993
***********************************
My husband I knew we wanted to explore the Natural Childbirth classes vs. "Lamaze" or the classes the hospitals offer. Maureen’s classes are packed with amazing information and support. A friend and I were pregnant at the same time and I was with her at her baby's birth (after only attending 2 of Maureen's classes). I had WAY more pertinent knowledge than she had from her hospital birth class. The support, information, intimacy of the class and Maureen's great personality made the class fun and extremely worth the time and money investment.
We also had Maureen present for our daughter's birth. Maureen’s experience with childbirth and hospitals proved to be "priceless". She guided us to make informed choices that WE wanted. We felt empowered because of her presence. I highly recommend Maureen and The Bradley Method (her husband, Michael is an added bonus). I gained so much confidence from Maureen that I have since had 2 home births.
Vicki & Burt, parents of 3, students and doula clients in 1993
***********************************
We highly recommend having Maureen as your doula for a natural childbirth. I was determined to have a birth without drugs because of my desire to have the healthiest baby possible. I viewed it as a gift to my baby, even though I was fearful of the pain.
My husband wasn’t so sure about this path. He thought it would be much easier for everyone if I would get an epidural, but he supported my decision.
So we decided we needed a doula for two reasons: first, we didn’t have a high level of confidence in the hospital care we would receive, and second, my husband wanted someone there who could support me in the way I wanted to be supported. He didn’t think he could help me though natural childbirth himself.
After meeting Maureen, we both felt very comfortable about having her support us. She met with us twice before the birth to discuss our desires and give us hints to help the birth go better.
On Halloween day, 2002, I went into labor and gave Maureen a call. I was happy being by myself for most of the day, but as labor progressed, I knew I needed help. Maureen came to our house and helped me breathe and visualize and move through the contractions. She was a very calming presence though a painful part of labor (transition phase).
When we got to the hospital, Maureen was right by my side, giving me liquids to drink and reminding me to do certain things to help with labor. The nurses come and go, but your doula stays with you though the whole process. I was thrilled when our baby Ryan was birthed without drugs, and I was thankful to have Maureen help me though the delivery.
If you want to have a drug-free birth, I think you really need to have an experienced person help you, whether that is a family member, friend or a doula. But it needs to be someone who has been through the birthing process many times! We were so pleased with the help we received from Maureen and we hope to have her help with our second child when the time comes.
Shannon, mother of 1, doula client in 2002
***********************************
Maureen made a huge difference in my post-partum experience not turning into a post-partum depression. I was diagnosed as having a high risk for PPD, and the doctors told us that sleep deprivation is a major factor in PPD. We used Maureen as a "night nanny" or post-partum doula for the first three months of our daughter's life. Initially she came two nights per week, and later she came only one night.
From the beginning we felt very comfortable with Maureen. She was professional, compassionate and encouraging. She had great tips for handling our very colicky baby and for getting our baby on a schedule.
We can't say enough nice things about our experience with her. And we would highly recommend her to other parents.
Caren, mother of 1, postpartum doula client in 2001
***********************************
We attended Maureen Jackson's Bradley class before our second child was born. What a difference it made in the birth experience. Many people wondered why we were doing this since it was our second baby. They said, "You've already been through this once and things turned out fine." It was true, my first pregnancy was great and the birth was not complicated at all. But I knew that my experience could have been better, but not until years later. One of the greatest things I learned at the Bradley class was that I had a choice - a choice about the tests and procedures I was asked to submit to by my doctor and a choice about my overall birth experience, and how my baby would be treated after the birth. I felt very empowered and that I was in charge and not the doctor or the hospital. I would recommend the Bradley Method to anyone having a baby and especially a class taught by Maureen. She is warm and witty! , and not afraid to dispel any myths about child birth. Since she has attended many births, including ours, she has real-life experience about what really works and what is really necessary. I found her an invaluable support during labor and delivery and a great advocate for my wishes at the hospital. It was awesome having her come over to our house while I was in labor. It made time go by faster, and I'm sure she helped my labor to come on faster and the delivery sooner. Knowing that I could call her anytime I needed advice or just for some emotional support was comforting. Those first six weeks are always the most difficult, but having Maureen to lean on helped take some of the stress away. She really knows her stuff, and I can't put into words how wonderful her classes were, what a support she was at the birth and what an all-around great person she is!
Tina, mother of 1, Bradley Class student & doula client in 2001
***********************************
Maureen was our Bradley Childbirth Instructor and doula. Maureen's classes were very informative, yet interesting at the same time. She is a great teacher; very easy to listen to and learn from.
Maureen was our doula for the birth of our second child. Since the first birth was very difficult and not handled properly, I was worried and scared about going through it again. However, after getting to know Maureen and taking her classes it changed my fear into excitement. I remember being at the hospital and seeing Maureen walk into the room, I instantly felt at peace knowing I was in safe hands, almost as if my guardian angel had arrived. She watched over me intently, never missing a beat. She guided me gracefully throughout my labor and delivery. She tended to my every need, even when I didn't know what that was. She is a truly compassionate, understanding, caring, confident, and a capable doula. I will always be grateful to have had her by my side for the birth of my child. I am expecting again soon and she will be with me for this baby too.
Kim, mother of 3, Bradley Class student in 2001 and Doula client in 2001 & 2003
