My husband and I were so blessed to have Autumn be apart of the birth of our 3rd son. Her encouragement, resources and wealth of knowledge were priceless to us. She has a passion for educating pregnant women and helping them have the birth experience they want. I loved the time she spent with my husband and I at our prenatal appointments with her. The questions she asked really showed that she cared and also made me consider some things that I wouldn’t have thought about on my own. The binder she gives at the first prenatal appointment is jam packed with information.

When the time came for me have my baby, Autumn was there every step of the way. We were back and forth on the phone for many hours before she needed to come to my house. She would call to check up on me if she hadn’t heard from us in a while.

Having Autumn with us at the hospital was so comforting. Since everything happened so quickly (arriving at the hospital at 9cm), I just remember her being a quiet voice in my ear amidst the chaos of the delivery room. I also remember her fanning my face with a little fold-out fan that she carried in her “nifty doula bag of tricks”. She praised me once my son was delivered and showed true excitement at me doing it naturally. She made me feel like a million bucks.

Once my son was born, the doctors took him right away to tend to some minor complications. I will never forget Autumn whispering in my ear, “Tell them you want to hold your baby.” I was so preoccupied with the doctor forcing my placenta out of me that I didn’t even think about holding my son. I am so thankful for her gentle reminders!!

My husband and I would not have been able to accomplish our first natural birth had it not been for Autumn. She was the person who sparked my desire to go natural, then she gave me all the information and resources we needed to make it happen…and it did!

Autumn was readily available and knowledgable when I had questions during my pregnancy and especially after I had my doctor’s prenatal visits. Throughout early labor at my house, Autumn called me several times to see how I was doing, she gave me words of encouragement and monitored my labor. Later Autumn met me at my house and then we headed to the hospital.

During labor Autumn was calm which helped me stay calm. She started these amazing breathing techniques and coached me through labor. This was awesome! When I became tense she was able to soothe me through breathing techniques. She would encourage me during contractions and also helped me through different positions for delivery. Autumn was caring and supportive all throughout my labor. After delivery, she called and visited me at my home to see how my baby was doing and checked on how I was recovering which helped me feel cared for.

Autumn helped me avoid all these unnecessary hospital interventions that would have happened if she was not there as my doula. Especially since I was an attempted vaginal birth after cesarean delivery. It was so important to me that I have a drug free and natural delivery. I did it!.. And now I have a healthy baby boy for which I am so thankful for! Without Autumn there at the hospital as my doula I don’t know if I would have had my VBAC. Thank you Autumn for being there for me. I'm thankful for your expertise in all you do as a Doula and your support!

"I had acquired Autumn late in my pregnancy due to a bad experience I had when I went into false labor. I knew I wanted to do it natural and having little support at the hospital left me sad and frustrated. I was already 37 weeks when I asked Autumn to be my doula and she was so understanding about it. Other doulas I had asked about taking me on seemed as if it was "inconvenient" to take me on as a client but she made me feel really welcomed regardless of my birth being only weeks away. Honestly, God worked everything out including my false labor experience just so I could have Autumn. I am certain of this cause if I hadn’t have had her I would have had my baby girl at home...or in car...or in the waiting room at the hospital.

First of all I had been having extremely uncomfortable contractions for months prior to having baby. I was already at 4-5 centimeter by 37 weeks, and my doctors were sure I was going to have baby early. Well...baby had another plan she was 3 days PAST my due date. When I finally went into labor Autumn saved the day. She not only comforted me over the phone but told me positions to help with my back labor. When we made it to the hospital she was waiting with a wheel chair and room which was amazing cause I wound up having my baby girl with in 10 mins of walking into the hospital door and if it hadn’t have been Autumn I would have not even had a room. God worked everything out He knew I needed the support and the guidance and Autumn really delivered on both. Super friendly and caring person that I would recommend to anyone anytime.”

Autumn,

We cannot express how truly grateful we are for your support and encouragement throughout the pregnancy and birth of Sadie. Without your knowledge we would have been lost.

When I realized I was pregnant again for the second time, I wasn’t ready. I was doubtful that I wanted to do it or even could do it again. So many times I thought I should give in and have another c-section. But I knew in my heart that I wouldn’t ever forgive myself if I sabotaged my experience. I remember your advice; ‘get excited about this, get prepared, it’s the only way you’ll make it through.’

You helped me to experience the feeling of birthing my child naturally and knowing that I could move past the pain to do something that I wanted but felt I couldn't have. Because of this experience, I no longer feel damaged or less than other mothers. You have given us one of the greatest gifts, a beautiful memory of the birth of our daughter.

We are forever thankful.

“Autumn's passion for birth results in outstanding care for mommy and baby. Before, during and after the birth of my first child Autumn was much more than a doula. Before the birth, Autumn provided a listening ear for my concerns and fears which I truly believe resulted in a smoother birth. When I went into labor she arrived quickly and brought relief with her techniques. I cannot imagine giving birth without her skill. She is incredibly strong and resilient. After the birth she has been supportive by offering advice from her own experience. I plan to use Autumn's services for my next birth and highly recommend her to anyone seeking support and care that comes from the heart.” -Marisa, Redlands.

Welcoming our first daughter into the world, as for other couples, is both an exciting and a worrisome journey. During pregnancy, it quickly became evident to my husband and me that we wanted professional help and guidance from a doula for the assurance. We wanted someone who shared our Christian values and had the knowledge and experience to support us throughout the birthing process.

After prayer and thorough research, we were blessed to connect with Autumn. From the moment we engaged with her until the delivery of our baby, Autumn proved to be an invaluable resource. She provided us with guidance, understanding, and unwavering support. What sets Autumn apart is her passion for healthy living, which extends beyond just pregnancy and delivery. She genuinely cares about the overall well-being of her clients, including their faith, mind, and body. Autumn's approach is tailored to each individual, and she shares valuable resources such as knowledge materials, podcasts, websites, and offers one-on-one guidance. Even our delivery Doctor mentioned how good and supportive she was as a doula.

Looking back now that our daughter is born, we cannot imagine going through pregnancy and birth without a doula, especially without Autumn. What started as a professional relationship quickly turned into a cherished friendship. We are forever grateful for Autumn McLees and her doula services.