Holly Zurer

I'm a first time mom and my due date was 6/2/2020. I ended up working with Holly through Seacoast Family Care Services offered through Portsmouth hospital.  I was on the fence about hiring a doula.  The pandemic hit and I found out through my virtual birthing classes that the doulas were allowed as additional support.  This was a no brainer, I could have my husband AND a doula supporting me.  This was the best decision I made. I ended up being induced early (38.5 weeks) due to high blood pressure.  Holly was amazing through the entire process.  Explaining to me what they were doing but also giving my husband and I alone time to discuss what we wanted.  She was so knowledgeable in different positions to try to progress the baby as well as coaching my husband on how to help me.  She was on top of everything.  She was asking me if I wanted things before I even knew I did.  I honestly have no idea what I would have done without her. I recommend to all of my newly pregnant friends to hire a doula, having the extra support was that valuable to me.

My husband and I absolutely loved having Holly as our doula. This was our first child and we both had some anxiety about the labor and birth process. Holly gave us wonderful resources and made us feel so informed and supported in our decisions. She provided so much help, comfort, and support during my labor, both for myself and my husband. She is super knowledgeable about positioning and comfort measures. I never had to ask about closing doors or turning down lights because she was on top of it all!! She was an incredible advocate for us and we would recommend her to anyone!! Three weeks after my son's birth, she is still checking in on us and sending helpful resources.

Holly was one of the most amazing experiences of my birth. She helped me every step of the way and even when she wasn’t my scheduled doula at the time of Rowans birth, she met me at the hospital and helped me until Nicole got there. She came after with smoothies and her advice about after baby got here was instrumental in our care. She met with me months later to see how I was doing and never lost touch. I can’t put into words how important she was in our birth story.

Holly helped me tap into my inner strength, and without her my labor and delivery would not have been the same. She did exactly what I hoped she would do: respond to needs I didn't know I had. Her warm and professional demeanor were a comfort to me and my husband, and an excelent addition to the medical staff, who seemed to have an easy time working with her, too. Above all, she was an advocate for me and my family, holding our hands (literally and figuratively) through a difficult labor, always displaying genuine confidence in the process. My labor started with an unexpected issue when my baby's heart rate dropped during contractions. We were quickly required to abandon my birth plan in place of necessary interventions, something Holly had prepared us for. Holly worked tirelessly, and to the best of her abilities, to accomodate our plan within the confines of the interventions. As the labor became even more challenging, Holly adapted to the situation without flinching. Holly was senstive to the staff's efforts but outspoken in gathering information and making suggestions, and I truly felt she was collaborating with our midwife in our care. One of my srongest memories was her smiling face during the hours I toiled in labor, including the hours I spent pushing my baby out with great difficulty. Every word at that point was encouragement, and affirmations of my strength and ability to do what seemed impossible. In the end, it was possible but I may not have achieved it if I had not been encouraged all those hours. I truly believe that it was the group of people in the room who made my challenging delivery possible, and were it a diffferent group it may not have been the same. Holly has a rare combination of loving compassion and professionalism that make her extraordinary in her job as doula. I reccomend her care to anyone.

I want to publicly thank Holly for her amazing work with my client in her area. I had a spouse of a disabled veteran contact me about working with her. I was unable to and found holly. Holly was great with me, professional, and opened her heart to work with this mother. When I checked in with the client she said she said holly was amazing and saved her. Thank you so much Holly for the work that you did with this mother out of the kindess of your heart, you made a huge difference and I know I am forever greatful.

Having Holly as my doula was an absolutely necessary part of my birth experience. She was professional, pragmatic, strong and kind. My birth would have not gone even remotely as well as it did had I not had her with me. I would highly recommend Holly to anyone seeking a doula.