Breastfeeding | Doula Services
Breastfeeding Testimonials I called Mary 3 days after coming home from the hospital with our son. Mary met with my husband, baby, and I in person and made us feel confident about my decision to breastfeed from the beginning of our meeting. Her instruction is clear and personal, and her demeanor is supportive and honest. Mary is very very realistic with you about your needs and your baby's needs. She made us all feel like breastfeeding would work and it did!  Mary walked us thru step by step what to do in order to get our baby into a routine. The schedule was easy to follow without compromising our style of parenting. Having a resource like Mary available day and night to help you either via phone, text, or email with any question or concern or just to praise your efforts made the first 4 weeks at home with our newborn more predictable and comfortable at a time when those feelings could be nonexistent. Every time I spoke with Mary, she made me feel competent and successful. Mary was a blessing!  Caitlin, Rob, and Matthew May 2010
Mary was a lifesaver for me when my daughter and son were born. She was our Lactation Consultant and doula and taught us techniques for effective nursing and bonding that made life easier for all of us. My kids came to love her and think of her as a member of our extended family.  Now that they're 5 and 3, we hire Mary for a week each year while my husband and I attend an industry conference. Mary is the only person I would trust to stay with our kids for a week, outside of family, and I have as much confidence in her as I have in myself. I have absolutely no worries about the kids - I know they love her and that she can handle anything that comes up. She picks the kids up from daycare and does everything I would do - prepares their dinner, eats with them, bathes them, plays with them, reads to them and puts them to bed. Then she's on the monitors all night in case one of them needs her! In the morning she prepares their breakfast and gets them ready for school, and drops them off. Mary is so loving and caring that although of course they miss us, they consider it a treat to have her for a week. We never have to worry about them even though we are on the west coast, and when we come home, they're delighted to see us but sad to see Mary go.  I don't think we could do this without Mary. We are lucky to know her! Naomi Sorkin February 2010
A friend of mine referred me to Mary when I was having a difficult time breastfeeding my daughter, Drew. When Drew was 3 weeks old Mary observed me nurse, and taught me many helpful techniques on how to correct nipple confusion, ensure a good latch and the overall benefits of breast milk for my child. Although I hired Mary as a Lactation Consultant, she helped me in so many other ways and most importantly helped me in my transition to a new mom. I literally called her day and night with questions, seeking advice and sometimes to just have someone to talk to. She was always accessible, reassured me that I was doing the right thing and always made me feel that I wasn’t going through this alone. I nursed Drew until she was 7 ½ months old and I credit that to the help Mary provided me. I honestly don’t know if I would have made it past that third week if I hadn’t called her. I am so thankful for her expertise and her friendship. I would highly recommend Mary to any new mom.  Randi Leonardis November 19, 2005
Mary was a great help to me as my lactation consultant after the birth of my son, Alex. I started out in the hospital breastfeeding without any unusual problems. But then, naturally, as a few weeks went by I started to have some questions and concerns and so I called Mary. She made me feel very comfortable reaching out for help day or night. She was sincere and competent in addressing my concerns. I am thankful for having her as a resource and would highly recommend her to any breastfeeding Mom. Erica Murphy March 24, 2004
Doula Service Testimonials We had been breastfeeding and sleeping with my son for 12 months and were desperate to get him to sleep in his crib. After many failed attempts our doctor gave me Mary's number. We thought we had a sleeping problem with our toddler but after talking with Mary we found out we had an eating problem as well. Mary helped us realize that our son's nutrition was hurting our efforts to get him to sleep in his crib. She helped us come up with a plan but more importantly helped us to "maneuver" when things didn't go according to plan. She gave us suggestions and for the first 3-4 weeks she helped us on a daily, sometimes hourly, basis to keep our son on schedule.  First, because our son was breast-fed he didn't make the transition to foods so easily and was primarily grazing all day. Within a week or two he ate 2 square meals a day and started to take his daytime naps. Second, we worked on a sleep schedule which we were afraid would be too regimented and cruel but found out it was not the case. In fact it was very flexible and organized. We cannot convey how wonderful our life is now without the struggles and crying. As soon as we put him in his crib, he falls asleep quickly and stays asleep 12-13 hours straight in his crib every night and doesn't get up until the morning. Other mothers are in awe of what we have accomplished in such a short time. Our son is very stubborn and we were skeptical but she worked it out and never gave up on us. Thank you so much for all your help, you have truly saved our sanity and relationship with each other and with our son. The Goldsteins October 2009
I was referred to Mary by my pediatrician. I needed some assistance with sleep training my son, and his doctor told me that Mary helped many of her patients and their families in this regard. We met and I felt immediately comfortable with her and we worked together for quite a while getting my son on a good routine and sleep schedule. All of her helpful hints and advice has worked wonderfully. She listened to our goals and needs as well to make his routine something that works for the entire family. I attribute my perfect sleeper to Mary's techniques and guidance. I enjoyed working with her so much that I turned to her for feeding advice as well. She has worked with us on multiple occasions in regards to transitioning my son into table foods as this proved to be quite a challenge for us as well. Again, all her techniques, guidance, and advice has been extra valuable to us. We love having Mary over! My son adores her, and when she comes over, it is like visiting with my favorite aunt. I would highly recommend Mary to anyone looking for assistance with their children in any capacity. Gina and Greg  March 2009
I am a mother of twin daughters, and was so fortunate to have Mary as both my labor and postpartum doula. During my pregnancy Mary was very supportive and available via email, phone calls, and even home visits. Her support continued through my labor and delivery, assisting me both physically and emotionally, communicating with the hospital staff and my family members, and helping my husband and sisters help me in the best way they could. She encouraged me to nurse the babies immediately after birth, and I greatly attribute this advice for my breast feeding success.  Once home, Mary became our lifeline, providing us with much needed sleep and endless suggestions for coping with 2 colicky infants. We would count down the minutes until her arrival, knowing how well she could calm the babies as well as us. Her breast feeding knowledge was vast (and superior to that of my OB I believe), and came in handy when I battled with yeast infections, bad latches, and tandem nursing. The additional help with the dishes and laundry also made our transition to parenthood less dramatic. She is a warm person that we liked having in our home, and she and I spent many night-time hours chatting through the various issues we were dealing with the twins.  She worked with us for two months very consistently, and provided us with the framework and knowledge to care for our children and ourselves on our own. I feel very lucky to have by chance found Mary's website, and to have shared my motherhood experience with her. Erika Arenger December 2008
After my C section my twin daughters were in the NICU for 10 days and Mary came to the hospital and taught me how to effectively breast feed them in a very stressful situation. Once we were able to bring them home she was the only guest we allowed in our house for the first week. She helped us with their first baths, taught us to swaddle them correctly so that they would sleep well, showed us what to look for when a baby was restless, helped us to get them on a schedule and gave us many tips on getting them to sleep among other things. She made our transition into parents of multiples much smoother than we could have ever imagined. She really understands the demands of twins and taught us a lot. It has been almost 1 yr since I had my girls and she still checks in from time to time to see how they are doing. We definitely hope to work with Mary again in the near future!  Lisa & Mike Keller December 2008
We can't speak highly enough of Mary in our house! In my first days home from the hospital she was just the calming influence that I needed to get through those beginning days. Her newborn knowledge base is extensive and certainly put me at ease. Also any fears I had about breastfeeding were quickly diminished. Mary helped ease both me and the baby into nursing and took away all my fears. She was a big help around the house, taking care of small tasks so I could rest and bond with the baby. I would certainly use her again and would recommend her to any new mom looking for help and guidance in their first days of motherhood. Jess October 23, 2006
I am a mother of twin boys. As a first time mother I was excited and nervous at the same time. Mary helped me to feel comfortable and confident with my new babies. Mary was given to us as a baby shower gift. She was the best gift we received. Mary helped us through many obstacles like breastfeeding, growth spurts and sleeping patterns. Mary kept constant communication with me. I never had to go a day feeling overwhelmed. I was able to call her at anytime but it seemed she always called first. Mary called everyday to see how things were going and gave wonderful advice on my concerns. Mary gives her expertise unconditionally. She truly cares about her clients and their baby’s well being. I highly recommend Mary. If we ever decide to have another child we will definitely have Mary by our sides.  Michelle Small November 25, 2005
When I had my first baby, I had a cesarean section. Without Mary's help, I don't know what I would have done. The assistance she provided to me as a new mother was exactly what I needed. She made it so much easier for me to recover from my surgery and adjust to the demands of caring for a newborn. She made nutritious and delicious lunches and watched my son so I could take a nap or a long shower which really helped restore my energy after being up all night. She cooked dinner for us, helped with the laundry and straightened up the house. It was great to have her help and I looked forward to her visits. Mary's breastfeeding knowledge is extensive. She is very supportive without being judgmental and offers suggestions for all of the quirky things that newborns do when breastfeeding. I didn't enjoy breastfeeding and had a lot of problems in the beginning. I wouldn't have continued without her assistance. I'm confident in her ability to solve any breastfeeding issue which will enable breastfeeding mothers to continue longer. One of the especially nice things about having Mary around is her personality. It is like visiting with a friend, which is especially nice when you are at home most of the day with a newborn. She has a lot of experience with new mothers and is very helpful with questions about newborn care and postpartum issues. I definitely want her help when I have another baby. All in all, Mary is an excellent postpartum doula and a wonderful lactation consultant. I would recommend her services to all new mothers, whether it's your first or subsequent child. Jodie Pelinsky March 29, 2004
Mary helped me enormously after the birth of my daughter, Cymbeline, who is now three. Since Cymbeline was my first child and I did not have a close relationship with my family, I felt very emotional and overwhelmed, and unsure of my abilities as a mother. Mary, with her warm, confident and competent manner, was very soothing. She came 4-5 times a week for the first few months and brought order, warmth and sanity to our house. She organized Cymbeline's room, would watch Cymbeline so I could grab a nap, taught me how to bathe Cymbeline, how to calm her down and suggested tips that we continue to use, such as using a soothing sound-machine in her room when she goes to sleep. She also encouraged me to take care of myself, something easy to forget when caring for a baby. I was very interested in breastfeeding, and Mary's expertise in this area was invaluable as well. I enjoyed spending time with Mary and continued to use her well into my fourth month home, and even on days home after I went back to work. Mary generously made herself available after hours, and I would call her frequently when I ran into problems breastfeeding, or if something else concerned me. I remember having a crisis with my breast pump at work and I immediately called Mary, who calmed me down and helped me solve the problem. I can't recommend Mary highly enough, and if I have another child, she'll be the first person I call.  Jennifer Coates March 22, 2004
	My Doula, Mary Olesky, was imperative in the birth of both my children. Without her, I know my children would not have had the luxury of entering this world in a calm and peaceful atmosphere. Michael Chaladoff December 7, 2003
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