I am so thankful we had Takayo's help throughout my pregnancy and postpartum but particularly during labor and delivery. I was a first-time mom, and I initially wanted an unmedicated birth, which Takayo was fully supportive of, and when I started laboring, she helped me through contractions both physically (hip contractions) and mentally (visualizations). She also tried to keep me feeling calm and unrushed to go to the hospital even when labor intensified. While I was waiting for my contractions to follow the 5-1-1 rule and when I finally made the call that I had to go to the hospital, it was the middle of the night, and Takayo was always quick to answer my calls and provide reassurance.
Other things Takayo did that my partner and I found particularly helpful were: (1) she referred me to a breastfeeding support group in my third trimester, where I learned how to harvest colostrum in syringes, so my baby had food right away; (2) she told my partner when to eat and rest while we were waiting in the delivery room, and because she was there, my partner felt he could truly rest; (3) she brought snacks for us during labor and after delivery and even prepared home-cooked soup and dumplings, which we found so comforting in the postpartum period; (4) she gave us positions and exercises to do during pregnancy to help with my sciatica pain and to help prepare my body for labor.
Hiring Takayo was one of the best decisions we made for ourselves and our baby. Without her, I know we would not have had such a smooth labor and delivery, and I am able to look back on the experience with so much love and gratitude.
Janice P
"Takayo was an amazing doula and she is my friend now! It was my first time giving birth and I had no idea what doula can actually provide. My original thought was to have her help just postpartum. When she first met us, she gave a great picture of what she can provide. We have decided to have her prenatal, during birth, and postpartum support. Prenatal: She gave me lots of amazing information/education/exercise that helped me to prepare for birth. During birth, she helped both me and my husband go through the experience. I felt so much love and support during the whole process. Postpartum: I had no idea, especially the first 2 weeks were so hard in so many ways. I was an emotional roller coaster. She came over to our home to give tremendous support, taught me breastfeeding, baby care, selfcare and many more. She also gave lots of great advice to me and my husband as we also struggle how our relationship transitions. I can't thank Takayo enough that I had an amazing experience with her."
Chieko O
I was so fortunate to have Takayo as my wonderful doula for my second pregnancy. She provided the best prenatal to postpartum care that I could have asked for. She listened to all of my preferences and offered supportive solutions whenever necessary. Though my labor process didn't go as planned, she helped me stay calm and make informed decisions in the moment. Post birth, she offered innumerable tips on breastfeeding, self-care recovery, and just being there as a source of emotional support whenever needed. She was not only our doula but has now become a good friend as well. My family and I cannot recommend her enough!
Yumi Cho
貴代さんは我が子と繋がってくださっているようなタイミングのサポート。 夫婦間ではなかなか言語化できないところを、アクションにまで落として、 夫婦の絆を深めてくれます。
最後は家族。だからこそ、家族力がつくドゥーラとしてのサポートがあります。
根源から見た命の世界線のサポートがあるからこそ、枝葉の情報で悩むことがなくクリアになります。 それは完全に右脳開花へと進んでいき、お産への神秘にたどり着きます。
貴代さんのドゥーラサポートは生涯に渡る起点となります。
自分も赤ちゃんも夫も上の子どもたちも、みんなが愛しくてたまらなくなる、 自分を信じる力を取り戻すプロセス。妊娠出産は神事。 全てを価値に変える力がある貴代さんのドゥーラサポート。唯一無二です。
— 柏木法子
私は当時、6年ぶりに息子を出産しました。そのお産に寄り添ってくださったのが、 ドゥーラの貴代さんです。
貴代さんの寄り添いは、単なるサポートを超えたものでした。 私が「女性であることの喜び」や「母になることの意味」を心から感じられるように、 体調や心の変化、そして家族との関わりまで、 あらゆる角度から支えてくださったのです。
お腹の中の赤ちゃんに優しく寄り添いながら、 同時に私自身の中にある本来の力を呼び覚ましてくださった──そんな体験でした。 まるで「本来の自分を知る」ことを手助けしていただいたような感覚で、 忘れられない深い時間となりました。
今回のお産は、新しい家族を迎え入れる大切なタイミング。 旦那さんとのパートナーシップ、すでに一緒にいる子どもたち、 そして旦那さんの前の奥様との間にいるお子さんたち── 様々な想いや関わりが重なる中で、 私と赤ちゃん、そして家族全体をつなぐ存在として、 貴代さんは全身全霊で寄り添ってくださいました。 その姿に、私は心からの尊敬と感謝を抱いています。
そして何より特別なのは、産んで何年も経った今でも、 日本とアメリカという距離を超えて家族のような絆が続いていることです。 出産という奇跡の瞬間だけでなく、その後の人生においても支え合える “一生もののつながり”をいただけたことは、私にとって大きな宝物です。
貴代さんと迎えるお産は、ただ赤ちゃんを産むという体験を超えた、 「自分と家族、本来の命の力に出会う体験」だと思います。 私はこの体験を、一生忘れることはありません。どうか多くの方に、このかけがえのないお産を、貴代さんとともに体験していただきたい──心からそう願っています。
— 瀬川優子
