Kathy Pehlke, Certified Doula (DONA)

Kathy's support during the pregnancy and birth of our third child was invaluable.  While my first two births were without major complications, I went into the delivery room fearful and was overwhelmed by pain and stress.  I had never even heard of a doula until after my second child was born but as soon as I found out I was pregnant with our third, I knew I wanted the birth experience to be different.  Midway through my first phone call with Kathy I breathed a sigh of relief.  I could tell immediately by her calm voice and genuine interest in what I wanted, that a doula was exactly what I needed.  My husband was skeptical at first, he didn't understand what a doula had to offer and why we would need one.  After our first meeting with Kathy his questions were answered, fears eased and he was thrilled to have her on our team.  The education and advice offered to us during pregnancy was incredibly helpful and for the first time I was looking forward to giving birth with excitement rather than trepidation.  When I was hospitalized with dehydration days before my due date, it was Kathy who kept us calm and focussed.  I recovered and my due date came and went.  Days past my due date when I was still impatiently waiting, my husband fell ill with influenza and we were told he would not be able to attend the birth.  Again, it was Kathy we turned to.  I was heartbroken knowing I would not have my husband in the delivery room, but strangely at peace knowing that I would have Kathy's support.  At the birth I was fortunate to have Kathy's help and the help of a wonderful new doula Kristy who was shadowing Kathy while working towards her certification.,  The encouragement they provided me gave me the stength to have the most incredible and empowering experience of my life.  Because of them I was able to give birth without fear and have it documented in photos, video and a written birth story to share with my husband.  Finally, the emotional support she provided in the weeks following Soren's birth was beyond comforting and much needed during a difficult time.  There are not words to sufficiently express how grateful and blessed I feel to have had Kathy as our doula.
~Devlin & Matthew~

We made the decision to hire a doula shortly after finding out that I was   pregnant.  The decision arose primarily out of our desire to have a natural, 
unmedicated birth with as few interventions as possible. We felt that a  doula could help provide the extra support we might need to follow through with that  choice (though, in the end, Kathy did so much more than just that). An internet search led us to Kathy's website, and shortly after contacting her, we met in person. The birthing process is certainly an intimate, personal experience, and  inviting someone we didn't know to share in that experience wasn't something I  took lightly. However, after meeting with Kathy only one time, I had absolutely  no hesitation about having her present for the birth of our baby, and her warm,  supportive nature only became more apparent as we got to know her during the  course of my pregnancy.  She offered helpful books and videos, introduced us to the Bradley Method, and answered questions. I was in the early, latent stage of 
labor for around 24 hours, and Kathy was in contact with me throughout this  time through text messages and phone calls, providing information, suggestions  to keep things progressing, and encouraging words while I labored at work and  at  home. When I texted her at 3 a.m. to let her know that my water had just 
broken,  she responded within minutes that she would be on her way shortly. Once  we were  all at the hospital together, her presence was invaluable.  She helped  to  create  a relaxing atmosphere in our room, gave me strength with her words of  encouragement, provided guidance as I began to vocalize through contractions, warmed a rice sock for my back, kept me sipping water to ward off dehydration, 
provided a pad for me to kneel on while I sought relief from my contractions in  the shower, and helped towel off my pregnant, aching body when I got out. All  of  these seemingly small gestures meant so much, especially since they allowed  my  partner to support me in other ways. With Kathy's assistance, we were able to achieve our goal of a natural, med-free birth. In addition to everything  else  she did, Kathy prepared a birth story for us (with details I never would  have  remembered on my own) and took wonderful pictures of our labor and  delivery.  When I saw the photos at our post-partum visit, they brought tears to  my eyes.  While we were focusing on the task at hand, Kathy had managed not only to  provide continuous encouragement and support, but also capture the most  beautiful images of the morning that our lives changed forever.  Without Kathy's  presence, our birth story would not have been the same, and I don't think we can fully express in words the gratitude we feel for her involvement in it. 
Kala + Kurt

My wife and I wanted to ensure that the birth of our first child was as natural a process as possible. The more we researched the birth process the more concerned we became, and felt we might need some help to accomplish our goal. We found Kathy’s website and set up an appointment to meet her. Right away she helped put my wife and I at ease; it was like we had known her forever. We had hoped to labor at home with Kathy’s help as long as possible, but due to a trouble stress test (one week overdue) all of the laboring had to be done at the hospital. As soon as Kathy walked into our room at the hospital she set about creating a relaxing atmosphere. She once again calmed our nerves and helped walk us through what to expect. Throughout the 19 hour labor Kathy was inexhaustible and did everything possible to ease the back labor pain that my wife was enduring. We are happy to say that Kristy made it through the entire labor and birth without any pain medication whatsoever. Without the help of Kathy’s calming demeanor and expert hands this may not have been possible. Kathy was a tremendous asset and worth every penny and then some. As the father I never once felt that she was taking my place, and in fact she helped guide me and allowed me to be more involved and helpful than I would have been otherwise. If you are considering a doula I would highly recommend Kathy, and she will be hearing from us when we are ready for another child. Thank you Kathy for helping us bring a beautiful, healthy baby girl into this world on our terms.
Dan & Kristy Blakley (Claira too!)

I am pleased to recommend Kathy Pehlke as a birth doula. Me and my husband had our second baby boy born on October 8th and were lucky to have her with us. I had a slow start to my labor and contracted irregularly for two days.  During this time we kept in close communication with Kathy via email, text and phone calls.  She was always available when I just needed some encouragement or someone to listen to my concerns.  Not only was she supporting me but also helped my husband with advice on how to help me get through. She was supportive of my decision to have a non-medicated labor and delivery.  She was so wonderful, dedicated, supporting and calming. I wanted to labor at home as long as possible and with Kathy's knowledge she helped us get into a regular contraction pattern.  Once we were all at the hospital she kept things calm and encouraging through the arrival of Carson.  The positive energy she brought was refreshing through the birth experience.  We are so thankful to have had her there! With Kathy's professional care and emotional support we managed just fine!  If we ever decide to have another child, Kathy will definitely be there. I highly recommend hiring a doula in general and Kathy specifically, she made such a huge difference to me and we are so thankful we had her with us.
~Jacki & Joe~

I really appreciated Kathy taking the Hypnobirthing class with me, and she also made me feel comfortable that everything would be fine, especially the last week or so when I was getting anxious. I felt very relaxed at the hospital, just knowing you were there to intercede if it was needed. You were very knowledgable and helped me stick with my birth plan in order to have a drug-free birth.  ~Fawn~

 "I always knew I wanted a natural birth, but I wasn't totally confident that I would be able to handle the pain. My husband and mom were there for me, but they weren't sure they could address my needs. I can honestly say that Kathy made my wish come true. She helped me to handle each contraction, gave me moral support, gave my husband and mom ways to help me, and made me believe I had the inner strength to give birth to my children naturally. I couldn't have asked for a better labor and delivery experience, and I know Kathy made it possible with both of our children. Thank you!"
~Rebecca & Taj~

When it came time for me to deliver, Kathy was readily available, meeting us at the hospital as we requested.  She labored with us, offering the most terrific pelvic press move (let her describe it), helping me in and out of the bath and bearing the weight of my then 200 lb body as I dangled from her neck.  I never once had to ask for her and I never once had to shoo her away.  She was like a little fairy godmother, meeting my needs without me having to utter a word.  She quietly stepped in when needed.  She let my husband take the lead when I needed him and she even spent time playing with my toddler and comforting my mother.  All in all, Kathy proved invaluable to us.  She was the calm, level head we needed during our relatively rapid labor and delivery….and she took great photos to boot!     ~Erica and David~

When the big day finally arrived, Kathy arrived at our home at 3:30 am looking rested and ready to go. I was able to labor in the comfort of my own home for a couple of more hours before going to the hospital. During labor, Kathy just knew where to be and when. I never had to ask for her and my husband never felt like she was trying to take over his role. Almost immediately after our son’s birth, my husband and I both agreed that having Kathy present for our labor and delivery was one of the best decisions we could have made.  ~Melissa & Andre~

Because the birth was an emergency C-Section, Kathy’s role was different than we had initially imagined it would be, but no less necessary or supportive. In fact, I think we needed Kathy’s support even more because of the element of surprise to our c-section” Her presence and her caring actions provided a curtain of calm which she wrapped around the three of us. I am certain the first hours after Maggie’s birth and my recovery would have been a very different, more confusing, more rushed, chaotic feel had Kathy not been there to navigate the situation with us.  ~Sally & Steve~

Kathy truly loves providing support and whatever else is needed during a truly emotionally trying time. She is wonderfully sympathetic and highly caring individual with a wonderful bedside manner, which makes her a wonderful Doula for anyone who may need a lot of support or a little encouragement and caring. Her voice was calming and reassuring. ~Lorraine~

This was the first Operation Doula Care birth in the State of Wisconsin.

Kathy was highly recommended to me by a very good friend.  When I contacted her she was more than willing to go a few extra miles for me.  Not only in her car, but in how she does her work.  The experience of being pregnant and giving birth for the first time I realized could be a one and only experience, and one I wanted to treasure.  I didn't want to feel dependent on my husband to know what to do in any given situation, expect him to do things he may have not been comfortable with and to solely rely on him for emotional support.  Knowing that Kathy was there to answer questions, share her experience, and be by my side from start to finish truly put my mind at ease.  I really believe that she gave me the courage and endurance to make the birth of my daughter, Kasandra the most beautiful day of my life.  Kathy had me doing activities to move my labor along.  She also gave my husband and I the moments that we needed to share together.  She effectively communicated my wants and needs to the hospital staff.  When I was in a moment where the hosital room started to spin around me, she brought me back to focus and shortly after I was united with my baby.  If we are blessed with another child, one of my first phone calls will be to Kathy to ask her to be at my side once again!   ~Karen & Rolando~

Kathy was irreplaceable. She did a great job of being right there when I needed her, while allowing my husband to be the main assistant. After an awful experience birthing my first child, I knew I wanted an advocate with me at the birth of my second. I set goals for myself and having Kathy by my side allowed me to exceed those goals for my 2nd birth! She was a life-saver for my husband as well. If I have a third, Kathy will be the next to know after I tell my husband! 
 ~Ashley & Dan~

Kathy helped me in many ways with the birth of my third child.  I was hoping for a more peaceful experience than I’d had with my first two.  First, she helped educate me about my labor and suggested techniques ahead of time which helped me to realize that it didn’t have to be as painful or stressful of an experience as I’d let it be in the past.  During labor, she helped me to reduce the pain with different positions and techniques that both she and my husband could help me with.  She also helped keep me be comfortable by getting things for me when I wasn’t willing to let my husband leave my side.  I’m so glad we asked Kathy to join us in our last birth experience.  It was truly the experience I’d hoped for, and a great memory to have of our final birth.

 ~Molly & Nick~
 

My husband and I worked with Kathy for the birth of our first child and we look forward to having her assist us when we have more children.  She was very professional and helpful prior to, during and after the birth of our son.  She was also very kind, thoughtful and caring – I know we could not have had the birth experience we wanted without her.  In the weeks and months before our baby was born, Kathy got to know us and provided materials that related to the type of birth experience we wanted to have. I especially enjoyed “Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth” as my husband and I hoped to have a natural childbirth experience. The book itself offered a lot of information and positive, encouraging stories.  Kathy also helped us develop our birth plan and was very respectful of it.  We understood that labor can “deliver” some surprises and that we may have to be flexible (and have realistic expectations) as labor progressed. However our experience with Kathy’s help went exactly the way we had hoped it would.  

~Katie & Dan~

When we had our first daughter, I had so many “dreams” of the perfect birth experience and none of them happened. Although we were definitely blessed with a beautiful and healthy daughter whom we love. For months after her birth I cried because I couldn’t remember the events of her birth, because I didn’t get to watch her come out or hold her after she was born, because I had pain killers, and the list goes on. So with the planning of our second child I was very set on having a doula. It was so wonderful to have her calm presence. Brian was so thankful to have someone there to be with me and allow him to get a little rest and then to guide him in some ways he could help me. I would never consider having another child without her there, and to answer the doctor’s question of whether or not I would go all natural again now that I have done it both ways: yes, but only with Kathy’s help!

~Katrina & Brian~

We met several times before the birth to talk about my wishes and what she had to offer. Each time we met, I felt more and more at ease with my decision to include her. I didn’t even know Kathy up until this time, but by the time I was in labor, she was the person I wanted called first and foremost. She had this incredible sixth sense of what I needed and wanted, even when I couldn’t vocalize. I had seven hours of Pitocin-enhanced contractions, but I made it through without panicking even once, or feeling abandoned or afraid, Kathy was the reason the birth of my son was such an incredible wonderful, powerful experience.

~Demrie~