Tara Beth Olson

I love Tara, and I already told her that if we still live in the area when we have our next baby she will be getting a call from me. Her personality fit me and my husband really well, and it was so great to have such a relaxed, funny, and knowledgeable person on our side.
This was my first pregnancy and I knew I wanted a doula, but I wasn’t sure how to settle on the best fit for our family. I also had the added complication of living in California, we didn’t move to DC until I was 30 weeks, and choosing someone without meeting them in person. I got recommendations from local friends, checked out a number of websites, and decided Tara would be the first doula I called because she used an evidence based approach, I loved that she took photos of the labor and delivery, and the tone of her website seemed to fit my personality.
I ended up hiring Tara because she was completely supportive of my relaxed approach to labor and delivery. I wasn’t looking for a spiritual experience. I was okay with it being uncomfortable and gross, because I figured that would make it funny and, as I told Tara, it was most important to me that I be able to laugh at the absurdity of what was going on. I really feel like she helped foster an environment in which keeping a sense of humor was embraced. Additionally, during my initial conversation with Tara she let me know that she kept stats on local hospitals on her website and we discussed her experiences at a few of the options. Thanks to Tara’s help, I chose a hospital and doctor that were perfect for me prior to my cross-​country move.
Once I went into labor, I didn’t know if I’d go unmedicated or get an epidural. It seemed most likely I’d like the epidural, but I just wanted to see what labor would be like and make the decision on the fly. She was totally cool with that. When I finally asked for the epidural, I had yet to be moved out of triage and into a delivery room. My doctor told them to give me the room with the best view, and the nurses explained it would take about 30 minutes to get it ready for me. I told them I was okay waiting, but about 5 minutes after saying that I was not doing so hot. Tara went up to a nurse and told them I needed a room immediately, it didn’t matter what the view was, I needed the epidural ASAP. I was so thankful for her for taking charge.
Finally, Tara brought us banana bread when I went into labor. It was awesome, and we ate it throughout our hospital stay. Need I say more?

My wife and I were blown away by Tara. We literally would not have had a natural birth without her. Tara was with us every step of the way and always made her self available. She made us feel like we were a part of her family and always went above and beyond our expectations. Before our special day, Tara provided us with key information to help guide us on the path of a successful birth. My wife and I read 20 plus books before and during our pregnancy. That knowledge did not compare to Tara’s extensive knowledge about reproduction, the birthing process, positions, stretches and best practices.
During our 24hr extended labor, Tara was by my side coaching my wife and me. She spoke up at very critical moments when my wife and I were at our wit’s end encouraging us to keep going letting us know we were almost there when we wanted to quite. She negotiated our options with the doctor, directed the nurses and persuaded my wife to keep going. Tara was my guiding light as we coached my wife through the most magical experience of our life.
Our beautiful baby girl is now six months old. She is healthy happy and cheerful. I feel like I owe Tara the world for successfully helping us bring this beautiful baby girl into our lives. I hope Tara is available when we have our next child. There is no person (other then my wife) that I would want by my side during this magical time in our life (sorry mom & dad).
Thank you Tara, you were truly amazing! I hope many families get the opportunity to be with you during their special time. You are an amazing person, coach, teacher and fried.

I cannot say enough good about Tara Olson or the experience of working with her as our doula.
Tara is extremely knowledgeable, and her expertise made my wife and me feel much more confident as we headed towards our due date. Tara recommended valuable resources that were succinct enough that we actually used them, so we ourselves were well-​educated. Then, in our meetings during the months before the due date, she answered our remaining questions clearly and elaborated on the most important ways we could prepare for a healthy labor.
During the delivery, Tara gave so much comfort to my wife. Tara seemed to know exactly how to aid her through difficult contractions. The physical aids she provided, including Tara’s direct touch, plus some birthing accessories, were strong but not painfully strong – because my wife has a pain disorder, that’s a vital and difficult balance to strike. She also talked my wife through contractions beautifully, offering encouragement and strength while acknowledging how difficult things were.
But it was Tara’s personality, just as much as her knowledge and technical competence, that made our experience with her a special one. Tara has an unaffected openness that lets her «be herself” – warm, interested, fun, grateful – in a way that prompts everyone nearby to feel comfortable being themselves too. That was certainly the case for my wife and me during our pre-​birth meetings with Tara. Also, during slack times on the day of the delivery, Tara engaged each of our family members in friendly discussion. That is, Tara gave some of herself to everyone in the family, and everyone’s day was happier for it.
Tara will prioritize you, not a political agenda, on question of how much a labor should be «medicalized»…and she’s likely to be among very few people in your life who do so. As with other political issues, some people seemed primarily interested in promoting their viewpoint when the question of epidurals, induction, and abdominal birth came up during my wife’s pregnancy. Most people in our lives, too savvy or polite to overtly advocate, just sat quietly, tolerating the idea that someone in the room might disagree with them but unable to mask their strong preference on how my wife should deliver. Indeed, now that the birth is done, most people in our lives can’t help but convey their wish that it had been either more or less medicalized.
Only Tara was really, genuinely, unwaveringly supportive of how my wife proceeded through issues of medicalization. To be sure, she was able to provide facts and explain options to help guide my wife’s choices. But Tara is open and confident enough that she can prioritize you, not a preexisting agenda.
In addition to providing knowledge and comfort on the day of the birth, Tara took many photographs that we totally treasure. They’re not artificially bright or saccharine like many wedding or baby photos, nor are they awkwardly posed like many family portraits. They’re spontaneous, often serious, sometimes joyful – all beautifully authentic, uncomplicatedly moving.
So I recommend Tara’s doula services, but what I especially recommend is Tara herself. I’m not just glad Tara was able to help make the birth experience a positive one for my wife. I’m glad my daughter was born into a room made warm by Tara’s depth of humanity.