Our Experiences with Joanne Dahill
Doula
“My husband and I tell our friends that hiring Joanne as our doula was the best and most important decision that we made for our daughter’s birth. It’s difficult for me to talk about without getting emotional, but suffice it to say that she was really there for us during some harrowing labor-moments. Her support — emotional, psychological, and physical — and her suggestions — practical, affirming, and calming — helped turn a potentially frightening experience for me into an empowering experience that I feel proud of. My husband, who was initially skeptical about hiring a doula, said that he would hire her again in a heartbeat. Joanne was also very available prior to the birth for prenatal massages, to answer questions, discuss our birth plan and suggest many helpful resources.” ~Tamara
“A skilled and resourceful doula, Joanne helped to make the birth of our first child an empowering experience. She provided invaluable physical and emotional comfort before, during, and after the birth. Before the birth she met with my husband, my mother, and me to answer our questions and help demystify the entire process. In the course of my pre-natal massages, she relaxed my body and my mind. During labor, Joanne helped keep us calm and focused on the baby. Her touch, encouragement, suggestions and soothing presence enabled me to have a relatively short labor and a natural childbirth. After the labor, she gently directed me during the crucial first nursing. During her follow-up home visit, Joanne demonstrated infant massage techniques to comfort our newborn and relieve his gas. A caring and nurturing person, Joanne called us several times to check on our son’s jaundice and generally ensure that we were adjusting well to parenthood. I recommend Joanne unequivocally and frankly do not understand why an expectant mother would not consult a doula.” ~Jacqueline M. Olich, Ph.D. Durham, NC
“My husband and I were so happy to have Joanne with us during the journey of my pregnancy and birth of our twins. While I was expecting, she guided us in mapping out our plans and expectations for a hospital birth. This was particularly helpful because we were much better prepared when the time came. At the hospital, Joanne was the clear thinker who reminded us of what our options were and what we wanted to ask the doctors. Joanne was our advocate, a soothing and nurturing presence, and the font of knowledge that we could turn to. I look back on the twin’s birth and feel like it was a beautiful experience, and Joanne played a huge part in making it that way!” ~Melissa
“Taking the Hypnobabies course with Joanne Dahill was a wonderful and enriching experience. Joanne was an inspiring instructor who taught me about the power of my own mind and positive thinking. Through Joanne’s encouragement and Hypnobabies’ reading material and DVDs, I learned how self-hypnosis could assist in the easy and natural birth of our daughter. When I had a prenatal massage with Joanne, I still remember discussing how to best visualize my ideal birth experience, and sure enough it was a safe, fast, and beautiful water birth. I was only at the Birth Center for two hours before our Jenna was born, and I stayed surprising calm the whole time! Since this is our first child, Joanne even came to our home twice in order to give breastfeeding support and teach us how to give an infant massage, which Jenna just loves. It is without hesitation that I would recommend Joanne to be someone’s doula and/or Hypnobabies instructor; she is an incredible asset to any woman seeking an amazing and empowering birth experience.” ~Tara Navarr
“My husband and I tell our friends that hiring Joanne as our doula was the best and most important decision that we made for our daughter’s birth. It’s difficult for me to talk about without getting emotional, but suffice it to say that she was really there for us during some harrowing labor-moments. Her support — emotional, psychological, and physical – and her suggestions – practical, affirming, and calming – helped turn a potentially frightening experience for me into an empowering experience that I feel proud of. My husband, who was initially skeptical about hiring a doula, said that he would hire her again in a heartbeat. Joanne was also very available prior to the birth for prenatal massages, to answer questions, discuss our birth plan and suggest many helpful resources. ” Tamara
“My husband and I took a long time to decide whether or not we wanted to have a doula present at our son’s birth. We decided to hire Joanne because after meeting with her, we knew that at the very least, she would help our first birth go as smoothly as possible. She turned out to be a great source of guidance when it came to making tough decisions throughout the pregnancy, and was available whenever we needed her. She took time to really get to know us and our birth preferences, so that when the time came, she was able to help us maintain our focus and think through our decisions. Her presence during the birth was invaluable to my husband and me. When my labor became difficult, she had suggestions that no one else thought of that helped me achieve an unmedicated birth. She not only supported me, she guided my husband in giving me the support I needed most from him. Having her there took the pressure off of him and enabled him to be an amazing birth partner. She also worked in perfect harmony with the hospital staff to help us feel like we had a cohesive birthing team.
We really appreciated Joanne continuing to support us after Emory’s birth. During her follow-up visit, she taught us lots of ways to comfort and feel more connected to our baby. She also followed up several times to see how we were doing with nursing issues. We would absolutely hire Joanne for future births, and recommend her to first-time and experienced parents alike. -Austin and Mary Dowd
Prenatal Massage and Guidance
Post Massage: “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your guidance and wisdom. The massage was amazing as well. I have been feeling calm and centered all day (which has not been the norm for me lately!).- IK Post Birth: I was thinking about you the other day. I wanted to thank you for your encouraging words and insight. It really helped calm my last minute jitters and also restore confidence in J. You were right, he was an amazing coach. He was able to obtain a copy of The Birth Partner, and thought it was a very helpful reference. We spoke to our L&D nurse at Durham Regional as you recommended. You were right in that they were incredibly supportive of our desire to try for a drug-free birth. We took things one contraction at a time, and had success for the experience we had hoped for. Thank you again.” – IK
Baby Welcoming Massage
“I had a wonderful massage experience with Joanne Dahill around 11 AM. I was 9 days past my due date, impatient and very uncomfortable. The massage was very relaxing. I started having Braxton -Hicks contractions in the afternoon after lunch and then went into labor at 1:30 the following morning; I would highly recommend Joanne’s labor welcoming massage!” Sandi H.
“Four days after my due date, in the August heat, I was more than ready to start labor, but there were no many signs that it would happen soon. I seemed to be losing my mucus plug, but apparently for a first time mom, that doesn’t really mean much. I called Joanne to get a massage because I was getting anxious with the wait and also was feeling more and more uncomfortable and achy with that huge belly. She came in around 8 pm with her labor induction essential oil mix. We talked about labor induction methods during the whole hour, since I was starting to think that I would finally have to be induced. Fortunately, no need of that at all. That same night at 4 am my labor started. Was it the oils, the relaxation, Joanne’s magic? I will never know, but it worked great! And I also had a great labor thanks to her.” Lucia
“As a doula and child birth educator, I highly recommend Joanne’s massage and body therapy services to my clients. Her pregnancy massage supports both physical and emotional relaxation, encouraging a deeper connection with baby; and her labor welcoming massages draw on the many skills she has gathered throughout her 30 plus year career. Every client I have ever sent to her has gone into labor naturally afterwards without the need of a medical induction!” -Brittany Pietrzak
“Joanne, thank you so much for your perfect touch for my pregnant doula clients. Every time I have send a client your way they have had nothing but wonderful things about their experience with you. Your Welcome Baby massage was just the right amount of touch to help my clients relax and prepare for labor. Your wisdom and gifted hands are so appreciated and I intend to send many clients to you in the future!” – Heather Kirstein Clements
“Dear Joanne, My client had nothing but amazing things to say about you. She told me to tell you thank you as it truly helped her relax. She was so impressed with your calming presence and skill. Thank you so much FROM ME, she has been so stressed and I am so glad she got to benefit from your massage skills.” –Tara Brossa, Birth Doula
At-home Postpartum Massage
“I would highly recommend an at-home massage with Joanne to any new mom. In the early days of my postpartum journey, Joanne’s services provided me much needed ‘mommy-time’. Through her experience and training, Joanne massaged away the aches & pains developed from the early days of breastfeeding. This much-needed relaxation time was made even more convenient and comfortable by occurring in my own home. Baby had a turn too. After the momma massage, we shifted gears and received an at-home instructional session on baby massage. Joanne walked us through a number of baby massage strokes and techniques which we’ve been using with our newborn as a way to relax her and a wonderful way to bond as a new family of three!” Krista
Calm Birth
“I am really enjoying the practices and have been pretty diligent about it. I rotate each day between the Practice of Opening and the Womb Breathing. I love them both, especially the opening exercise. My baby LOVES the Womb Breathing- it always wakes her up and she gets moving with those deep breaths and the sense of calmness. I have a practice of daily prayers, so I feel like I’ve been incorporating the Practice of Giving and Receiving without consciously realizing it. My husband and doctors are very supportive as well. I’m really glad I was able to attend the class- it has made me feel more connected to the baby and I am excited about childbirth in 2 months. Thanks!” Shanna
“The Calm Birth techniques were wonderful. Personally, I’m so grateful for the class and prep I did. I was a week overdue and woke up in labor on July 4th at 230am. The first 12 hours of labor were very manageable and I was able to draw on a lot from the practices, especially breathing and working the contractions and reminding myself each contraction was great for my body and got me closer to my baby. I stayed pretty calm throughout the entire labor, which was over 24 hours. There were a few minor complications, but I was able to have the vaginal, unmedicated birth I wanted thanks to the combination of my doula, my husband, my doctor who respected my wishes, and the Calm Birth techniques. The biggest thing I took from the practices was looking at contractions in a positive light, as opposed to being afraid or focusing on the pain. I admit, with the back labor I had the whole time, by hour 18 I was very tired, but I’m grateful I stuck with my plan and had great support. And we have our beautiful 10 month old girl who is the light of our lives!” S.G.
Focusing
“I worked with Joanne through a series of focusing sessions to support new perspective around an old lingering feeling. I cannot share a more enthusiastic review of her gentle, yet deep way of listening. In each session, I was spiraled into the heart of my experience and came to experience new inner awarenesses throughout the session. Joanne is effortless in her listening skills and kind, oh, so overwhelmingly kind in her approach. I felt seen, heard, acknowledged, and comforted by her gentle nature and keen leadership in the session. I cannot express in words the gratitude that I have for Joanne and these sessions. They were life-changing.” ~Amelia Vogler – MS, HTCP/I, Energy Medicine Specialist
My Focusing sessions went beautifully. They were gentle, deep, revealing and very helpful. I sense that you know and trust the process of Focusing. You articulate a clear beginning to the session, are confident with your reflections and wisely follow the flow and pace of my discoveries. You way of offering guidance is gentle and easy, yet strong in bringing closure. This is very powerful work. Love it! MANY thanks for the introduction to Focusing! ~Beth Burke NC LMBT 11730
Joanne brings many gifts and talents to her work with Focusing. She has trained in Focusing over many years and continues to deepen in her embodiment of this powerful practice as well as integrate it into her many other healing modalities. She has delved extensively into study of the mind, body and spirit. This dynamic combination, along with a loving heart and a creative soul gives her a rich capacity to be present with another, holding space with loving kindness and a trust in the inherent wisdom of the organism. This is the heart of Focusing! It was a pleasure to work closely with Joanne in the Certified Focusing Professional training. I highly recommend her as a Focusing professional or a professional that utilizes Focusing – whichever the case may be! ~Cathy Pascal, LCSW Certified Focusing Trainer and Coordinator
Feldenkrais
“Joanne is a dedicated teacher and practitioner who brings a breadth of experience and depth of understanding to the field of body-mind medicine. Her demeanor is caring and compassionate. She is adept and creative in applying this excellent method of movement re-education in teaching both children and adults how to move with greater freedom and ease.” ~Glenna Batson, P.T., M.A.
“Joanne is highly versatile and able to tailor each session to my needs. She is skilled, inventive and understanding. Joanne has a special ability to listen and act accordingly.” ~Carolyn Glen, Esq.
“Each time I work with Joanne I gain insights about myself which not only enhance my well-being, but also carry over into the way in which I interact with and care for my patients.” ~Paul Canali, D.C.
“As a therapist specializing in somatic psychology, I have found Feldenkrais to be a fabulous method for non-judgmental self-observations. Joanne’s eloquence as a teacher made it easy for me to learn how to move with greater freedom and more comfort.” ~Miriam Lieberman, M.A.
