Palabras que quedan

De las familias a las que he tenido el privilegio de acompañar.

A lo largo de los años, muchas familias han confiado en mí para formar parte de algunos de los momentos más personales e importantes de su vida.

Les estaré siempre agradecida, y me honra profundamente, que me hayan confiado aunque sea una pequeña parte de su historia.

Sus experiencias les pertenecen, y sus palabras cuentan esto mucho mejor de lo que yo podría.

Los testimonios se muestran tal como fueron escritos, en el idioma de cada persona. No los traduzco: sus palabras son suyas.

My husband and I are so thankful to have had Vero's support during this special moment in our lives. Although we felt well-read on labor and delivery, that was all theoretical for us as first time parents-to-be. I knew that we would both need an advocate by our side as I was hoping for an unmedicated birth. Vero's expertise was valuable in developing a birth plan that was rooted in our hopes/dreams but also what was realistic for a hospital birth. She is warmly direct and also encouraged us to be the same with her and our providers.

Once admitted to the hospital, the pressure of the "cascade of interventions" was definitely real. But because of our proactive conversations during prenatals and Vero by our side, we felt confident asking questions when interventions were suggested, requesting privacy and processing time, proposing alternative interventions, or delaying/declining them altogether. Without her, I don't believe we would have been able to communicate our desires with as much conviction or at all. While our birth did not go exactly as planned, I can say that the choices we made were well-guided, fully understood, and made with intention. I feel at peace and empowered by my birth experience.

Vero also provided physical and emotional support, which were critical for BOTH of us to persist through the most challenging part of LD and avoid additional interventions. What was most helpful was her suggestions and hands-on support for labor positions and, even more importantly, pushing positions. Again, we had read about these in theory - but it would have been difficult to call those to mind at the moment or know which ones may be most helpful for our particular situation. Our baby was positioned sunny-side up, and even my doctor remarked that the different positions Vero suggested during the pushing stage is likely what got him to turn and helped us avoid a c-section.

Julie Duong

My husband travels for work, so I was originally looking for someone to help me 2 nights a week when it was just going to be me. Then COVID happened and my husband no longer was traveling. I wasn't sure if we would still need Vero, but we agreed to at least try in the beginning because we committed.

Vero is so much more than an extra pair of hands. Little did I know how much I needed her. I chose Vero to begin with because out of all the people I spoke to, Vero spoke not only of helping with my daughter, but supporting me mentally and physically.

I ended up calling Vero to come two weeks earlier than planned, a few days after we brought my daughter home. I was so overwhelmed, sleep deprived, and my anxiety was high. I cried so hard the night she came. Breastfeeding was a struggle. Vero stayed up with me, listening, offering kind words and easy questions. She helped with breastfeeding and answered all of my 100 questions.

Vero is a calming presence. As soon as she entered our house, I would feel myself relax. She came twice a week, and was available to me at all times. She helped calm me when my hormones and anxiety was high, and offered advice and answers for baby questions all throughout the week.

She stays up with your baby, singing, cuddling, and doing any small chores you need done. She always leaves the house better than she found it. I obviously got some much needed sleep, but I still breastfed in the night, and that's often when Vero would listen to me and support in a very empathetic, understanding way.

It's so clear Vero loves what she does, loves my baby, and is passionate about supporting women in one of the most challenging and amazing times in their life. We will miss her so much as she feels like a new member of the family as well!!

Lindsay Hatcher

As the Dad in this glorious equation, I cannot tell you how much I appreciate Vero and everything she brings to the table. She was incredible, to say the least. She's the major reason my wife, a first time mom, came through a natural delivery with minimal trauma and pushed for less than 20 mins. There's no amount of reading or mother in law knowledge that can replace what Vero offers. Hire her early and follow her advice when she gives it. We will be using her for baby #2 for sure.

Ash D.

How lucky am I to have found Vero. She is the real deal and is down to earth!! We are forever grateful to have had her!

My husband and I are both from Venezuela and I wanted to find a doula that could equally and confidently explain everything in both languages. After my first meeting with Vero, I knew she had to be our doula! Not only did she click with me but she clicked with my family and that was super important to me. I expressed to Vero that I wanted a natural/ drug free birth. She was very supportive of my decision.

We had our 3 visits in my house. She explained all the fundamentals of giving birth and how to help my labor go faster. She was very professional, even when my fur babies were sniffing her out. Before having my baby, Vero was available anytime I needed to talk. A week before giving birth, I had a very heavy bleed that really scared me and Vero was there for me. I had called her at 2 am and she gave me advice right on the spot. The following week, my water had broke around 5:30 AM and I called Vero to let her know I would be going to the hospital around 9 AM. She called us on our way to the hospital and reminded me to breathe. She also asked my husband how I was doing once I could no longer talk. Once in the delivery room, Vero had my back, literally. She put counter pressure and rubbed my back whenever I needed it. She was able to read my body language and stop when I didn’t want to be touched. These were things that I didn’t need to say. She just knew. She had her doula bag ready with all her tricks. She gave me a damp wash cloth with essential oils that helped me focus on the smell and not on the pressure of the contractions. She would give me water whenever I asked for it and helped my husband with anything the nurses asked of him.

My husband was a nerve wreck while I was in labor and Vero explained everything he needed to know. She even got him to be quiet while I focused on each contraction.

During the pushing phase, Vero was to my right holding my leg up. She reminded me to breathe in and out all in Spanish while I couldn’t pay attention to anyone who spoke to me in English. In her telling me in Spanish, I clicked faster with what I needed to do. Vero reminded me of my birth plan when the midwives were talking about vacuuming the baby out. Thankfully, that advice encouraged me to push and two pushes later, Bruno was born at 12:49 pm. I was able to achieve my goals. I was able to give birth naturally without any medicine to relieve my pain. Vero was there the whole time and supported me and my husband. She left after she knew that our baby latched on well to my breast and making sure my husband and I were okay.

Our postpartum visit didn’t feel forced. Our visit felt like I was visiting with a family member. She brought me some delicious cookies and granola. Needless to say, both of those things were gone by the end of the day.

I can’t express with words how grateful I am to have found Vero. I am 100% positive my birth story would be very different if it wasn’t for her. We love Vero! She is forever part of my family now. We know exactly who to call for our next child!

Carla and Alberto Villasmil

The first 3 months of my postpartum journey turned out to be the hardest days of my life. Unexpected hospitalizations became the norm for my newborn but the days Vero came we were at peace knowing our baby is in safe and loving hands. Vero not only took care of my newborn with so much care, but also took care of me. From the best massages of my swollen postpartum legs, cooking me a warm meal, and preparing me a warm bath, I felt so taken care of. She talked me through my doubts as a mother and provided me immense reassurance when I worried for my newborn baby. She took care of our dishes, our laundry, and went out of her way to hand wash things for us. I was able to step out of the house without worrying about the baby and make some time out for myself.

Our favorite thing about Vero was her desire to learn and attain new skills. She took so many training courses on the side and even got certified for bellybinding. She always came back with some reading she had done that could help us learn about our newborns struggles.

Vero has been my right hand these 3 months. I was so blessed to have found her. Thank you Vero for blessing our lives with your loving presence. We will truly miss you and hope to continue working with you as our family grows.

Kanza Mazhar

My meeting with Vero was nothing less than destiny. I was 37 weeks and had waited to find a birth doula. My older son was born at 43 weeks so I was taking my time. No need to rush right?? Well my baby had different plans. I had spoken to Vero on the phone a couple weeks prior. Right away I knew I loved her but I wanted to meet in person still. We decided to meet at a Starbucks. We had a great chat and it was confirmed! I had found my perfect match. :) Here's where it gets interesting...2 hours later my water broke I call Vero, she thought I was calling to finalize everything. I said "well my water broke!" From that moment forward she was there for me. No questions asked, no hesitation. Her energy is just what I needed. I should also state that I'm a doula. I know how easy it would've been for her to back out, to say this is too much, to charge me more...we didn't even have a contract in place. But she didn't do any of those things. She dived in head first and just supported me. I can honestly say I love her! She's like a long lost family member that helped me through the most beautiful experience of my life. And I'm forever grateful. You should all be so lucky to find your perfect match, I can't recommend her enough!

Sarah Martinez

Veronica is an amazing Doula! I gave birth to our son six weeks ago in a hospital in Houston. I wanted to give birth in a hospital but on the other side I really wanted to have a natural birth with the least interference which can be a balancing act in a hospital environment. Veronica helped me to achieve that and I will be forever grateful for that.

She’s very knowledgeable and at the same time very passionate and empathetic. In our prenatal sessions she perfectly prepared me and my husband for the birth of our son. All the information she provided was very helpful. Together we worked out my birth plan that I brought with me to the hospital. Having a birth plan is essential when you opt for a hospital birth because that way all the nurses and the doctors will know your personal wishes and preferences. She also educated me about all possible medical interventions that could happen at the hospital which gave me a very good feeling because I felt I was prepared. The last thing you want is having to make decisions while you are having contractions and not really knowing what impact those decisions might have.

Unfortunately she was not allowed to be with us at the hospital because of COVID restrictions. However she was always available. When I was in labor I was communicating with her via phone- she was guiding me through the different stages of labor and even though she was not physically present, it always felt like she was with us. After a relatively short labor for a first time Mom I gave birth to our little baby boy. Looking back I would say my birth experience was perfect and I owe a big part of that to Veronica.

Veronicas work doesn’t end with the actual birth… I left the hospital after one day. My husband and I felt a little bit overwhelmed when we got home. Especially when it’s your firstborn, you have so many questions that you didn’t even think of before. Veronica was here for us and could not only answer all questions but also showed us so many useful tips and tricks for taking care of our baby. I was struggling with breastfeeding in the first days which was stressing me out a lot. I always thought that breastfeeding was the most natural thing on earth but it is not. I wouldn’t say that I was unprepared since I had read a lot of information about breastfeeding. But reading and actually doing it are two different things and so I found myself at home with a crying baby because he was hungry and no matter what I tried it didn’t work. I called Veronica and she came to our house and within less than half an hour the problem was solved and my baby was latching and everyone was happy. It was such a relief in that moment. Our baby is now six weeks old and I still text Veronica when I have a question and she can always help.

When you meet her you can immediately tell how much she enjoys being a Doula and how much she loves what she does. She will go above and beyond for her clients. My husband and I are planning to have a second baby and even though we are not sure yet about the timing, one thing we know for sure: Veronica will be our Doula again!

Vera and Max

Hiring Vero to be our Doula was the best decision we made while welcoming our son into the world. She is the most wonderful person, who helped guide us through every step of the way.

She also provided so much compassion, information, and calmness during the birthing process. I don’t know what we we’ve done without her.

If you are thinking about hiring a Doula for any kind of birth, Vero is the best!

-Caelin & Sam Geer

Caelin White

Our birth story went about as far off track as they go but Vero kept us prepared and grounded through every twist and turn. We planned an intimate home birth for our first child. I took every decision very serious throughout the pregnancy and choosing our Doula was no exception. We interviewed multiple and there was just something about Vero’s enthusiasm and work ethic that spoke to me. You could tell she was a go getter, very nurturing, hands on and motivating, that’s what l knew l wanted and turned out to be exactly what we NEEDED! I’m going to try to make this short but our “intimate home birth” turned into 2 days of home labor (unmedicated), 1 night of hospital labor (medicated), resulted in a necessary c-section followed by a 2.5 day hospital stay. It was hard, scary and pretty traumatic but our family of 3 came home healthy and happy and we can credit the majority of that to Vero. Why the Doula? She came into our home after l had been laboring alone for 8 hours and went straight to work. Made sure l was comfortable, nourished, hydrated. She comforted me as l tried to sleep on our couch staying up all night while she let my husband rest. The following day as my labor progressed, she had me doing exercises and stretches to help but Baby just wouldn’t descend. My midwife confirmed l wasn’t dilated enough, my water had broken earlier that morning and if I wanted keep any chance of a vaginal delivery, I needed medical induction assistance. So, the decision was made for us to transfer to the hospital. Something l had not prepared for because l refused to believe it was even a possibility. Vero jumped into action suggesting a hospital where she knew my care would be unbiased and top notch. She then helped us all pack bags and explained exactly what to expect upon arrival (covid times, didn’t allow her to meet us till L&D). She could have been done then...

She had been with us for over 24 hrs with zero sleep and we were checking into a renowned medical institution but I doubt it was a thought in her mind. While we checked in, she ran home to regroup then met right back with us upon being transferred to our delivery room. She set the mood in the room, reviewed my birth plan me and then made sure all the staff understood my plan. The staff explained the protocol then she made sure to reexplain until l was comfortable with every test and tube that came at me. She helped me labor medicated and as I rested, she observed from a corner chair. Meanwhile my husband snored on the couch. He obviously felt I was in excellent hands (lol) When they woke me up to explain Baby wasn’t responding well to the Pitocin and I needed a c-section I think she knew l was going to lose it. I was in disbelief that my birth had gone from my peaceful home to the extreme opposite of a surgery table but she didn’t skip a beat. She had everyone leave, gave me a few minutes to process. Even arranged a Q&A with the staff/surgery team so they could walk me through it. They came to roll me into the OR around 4:00 AM and we finally said our goodbyes. Our baby girl was born healthy as could be shortly after and Vero was continuously communicating via phone from then untill we were discharged. We can’t thank her enough for recommending that hospital. The quality of care (even during crazy covid times) left two hospital haters extremely impressed. She continued to go above and beyond despite almost every birth obstacle being thrown at us. She was genuine, compassionate, assertive and most importantly the strength I needed when l didn’t have any left. I can say with full confidence after her assistance with my 3 different delivery styles, over 3 days you will not be disappointed in hiring her. We will forever be grateful she was there to help navigate the eventful birth of our beautiful baby girl.

Alex Lyon

Vero is amazing. She was such a crucial part of my birth experience. Coming from a medical background, I wasn't sure I even needed a birth doula. But I felt having more support would help me emotionally and mentally. I totally made the right choice to work with Vero. Not only did Vero take the time to get to know me and my needs, she walked me through many steps of the delivery process that were new to me. I had a better idea of what to expect. In the labor and delivery room, Vero was invaluable to me. Once she arrived, Vero made sure I was never alone throughout the entire process. Kind, intelligent, and gentle, she provided me the support to face each medical decision. She helped me endure the pain and work through the contractions. She helped me face each step in my child's birth journey and I am forever grateful. Vero is now my postpartum doula and a valuable teacher and comfort to me. She will always be a part of my daughter's birth and early life, and I am lucky to have found her!

Deeba

This was my fourth pregnancy and I just knew I really wanted the support of a doula because it was my first home birth. My midwife recommended Vero and after our initial meeting by zoom I just knew she brought a positive energy and would be a great addition to my birth team. This labor was definetley unexpected and long, but the support provided by Vero was always there. She was energetic, positive and was able to read my needs and recommended many things to make me as comfortable as possible. She laughed with us, she comforted me when I needed her and held my hand. Her hip squezzes and foot massages are the best. And I'm thankful that she was there supporting me and my husband during the birth of my sweet baby boy Tadeo. Any family will be blessed to have Vero in their birth team.

Sindy Hernandez

We started by not knowing what a Doula was, and by wondering why we even needed one, and by the time our baby was with us, we didn't know how we could have done it without her. Our Doula had this incredible way of being in touch without being intrusive, providing lots of information without being overwhelming, and being supportive before, during, and after birth. Our Doula's name is Veronica Pertuso, but for us, she will always be "Vero".

Vero is this incredible, energetic, and passionate professional that loves what she does. She brings a touch of modern and practical techniques merged with foundational knowledge of the traditional practice. She focuses on teaching the parents all the biological aspects of giving birth, the meaning of things, the different terminologies, techniques, pain management, poses, exercises, as well as all the human and administrative things that one must deal with once at the Hospital, including the parent's rights and having a Birth Plan. If anything, Vero will present you wall the different options at your disposal, so that you can choose the one that fits you the best.

There was no message that was left unread, no question that was left unanswered, and no call that was not returned. Vero was always present for us and provided us all the information we needed, access to external resources, reading material, videos to watch, even a little test so she could understand better how both of us loved.

Labor for us started at home and Vero was there with us. Unfortunately, due to COVID, she was not admitted to the Hospital. However, she never stopped texting, calling, and monitoring how everything was. If something was bothering us, she was always there for us.

With only 2,000 characters available for this testimonial, we can close by saying that Vero was a complete pleasure to work with, we were blessed to have her in our way, and without a doubt, she will be there with us for the next one.

Karo & Fabian

I cannot recommend Vero enough. Honestly, I wasn't really sure if I "needed" a doula, but it was one of the best decisions I made. If anyone is on the fence about having a doula, do it! Vero was so wonderful. She was so informative during our prenatal visits and really put me at ease. I loved having her there with me at the hospital and knowing I had an adovocate. She is so nurturing and her presence is so calming. It made all the difference in the world to have her with us, and I really missed her after our baby was born. I won't have another baby without Vero by my side! She is truly the best.

Jessica

As a first time mom, I knew I wanted someone with a lot of birth experience with me. Much like we wouldn't go to court without a lawyer, I didn't want to head into a hospital birth without an advocate. I wanted to partner with someone who could help counsel me on pregnancy, labor and delivery so I could lean on someone who has seen way many more births than I ever will. I also wanted to do everything possible to mitigate against a c-section, and as a data scientist, I knew that the data shows that birthing persons with doulas have lower c-section rates.

I ended up needing to be induced at 41 weeks and Vero was there ASAP when showtime hit. She helped flip my baby from OP to LOA -- the optimal position for a vaginal birth -- through moving my body despite an epidural and coached me through a long labor beautifully.

Vero helped me decline unnecessary cervical checks and my baby got to take her time moving down the birth canal. Vero also helped advocate for me to hang out a bit at 10cm so that my baby could move down a bit further before I started pushing. I pushed my baby out in 4 contractions I think and I credit Vero with such an easy delivery.

I also appreciated Vero's experience as a psychologist. Her background made it so that her coaching felt custom fit. She offered an emotional connection beyond what any average OB or L&D nurse can offer.

If you are looking for someone to have your back during labor and delivery, but also keenly know when to tell it to you straight -- please hire Vero as your doula. She also brings great big sister energy :) You will not regret it!

We will absolutely ask Vero to be our doula again -- I can't imagine birthing without her calm but encouraging presence.

Felicity Pereyra

When a mother says "getting a doula is a life changer," she meant Vero. Before giving birth, Vero answered all our questions and provided great information to prepare our birth plan and to learn what to expect in all stages of labor. My partner also felt better prepared for the big day. During the birth, she never left my side offering compressions, position changes, water, and reminding me to use my voice to facilitate each contraction. After the birth, she made sure I was coping well both physically and mentally, something you may not consider is so important not to overlook. You will not regret having a doula at your birth, but if you have Vero, know that you and your partner will be in the best place to have the birth of your dreams.

Sarita Daniels

In 2018 my husband and I were expected to have our first child. He and I did extensive research on all things pregnancy was expected to bring. We decided around 33 weeks to look into getting a doula. It took us some time to actually decide that hiring a doula was best, because we figured if we attended all the child birthing classes that we would be fine. However, as my due date swiftly approached we knew that finding one wouldn't hurt. We were willing to accept all the help prior to, during, and after labor that we could receive. My husband and I met with Veronica one night and immediately fell in love with her. We are big believers in trusting the energy you receive from others, and Veronica's energy was vibrant and warm! When we spoke it was as if we'd known her own entire lives. In the end we decided to go with Veronica and another doula who had more experience. We figured they could both learn from one another and it would not hurt to have two different perspectives. The moments we had to bond with Veronica before my labor gave us all a chance to strengthen our relationships. I knew that she would be someone I could trust to help guide me through one of the most most beautiful experiences of my life.

After 6 hours of labor Aurora arrived. Holding her in my arms I looked up at Veronica as tears of joy rolled down her cheeks. We stared at each other as she says, "I am so proud of you." I responded, "I am proud of you too!" Because even though it was her first birth she was able to still bring comfort into our lives during the child birth experience. It was as if her soul had done it a thousand times before. We are forever grateful for Veronica and she will always be apart of our family. I hope that if you feel she if right for you, that you too will be able to experience the serendipity that she has brought to us.

-The Owens Family

Quay Holmes / The Owens Family