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March 2007
Referral letter for Valerie Ybarra, Postpartum Doula/Night Nurse
First let me start this letter of reference by stating that I miss Valerie! She came to work for us the week after our daughter, Victoria, was born. The first week, when she was not there due to a scheduling conflict, Valerie called me on the phone and came to my rescue when I had a breastfeeding issue. Even prior to this, Valerie came to the house and consulted with me on what I would need for the nursery (believe me, this was very helpful - after you have a baby you need everything on hand!).
When Valerie came to the house, she instantly put me at ease with her relaxed, nurturing manner, and expertise with infants. I could not have felt more comfortable leaving my child with Valerie than if she had been my own mother. Valerie bathed Victoria (we liked to call it a “baby spa”) then gave her an infant massage, something in which she is accredited, and then would put her in a cute outfit for the day. Valerie played with Victoria, held her, took her outside, and was very attentive to all of her needs and very loving. In addition to being Victoria’s caretaker, Valerie also did the laundry and tidied up her nursery.
Valerie is a great resource for all things baby related - I only had to ask a question or for advice and I received a solid, well informed answer from Valerie. She is also a great photographer!! I will cherish the photos of Victoria that she took for us.
One extra thing that Valerie did while she was here was host a baby massage class for me, 3 friends, and their infants. It was a really special and relaxing day for all of us and we all still use the techniques we learned from her. Victoria becomes contentedly relaxed after her massage and it helps her to sleep better at night.
Valerie made the transition to first time mother an easier, more informed, and less scary event for me. I am happy to have had her here for the first 6 weeks of Victoria’s life and I highly recommend her to any one that needs a well informed, experienced and highly qualified baby nurse.
Feel free to call me as a reference. I have already felt comfortable to refer her to friends, two of which will be using her services as a night nurse in the future.
Sincerely,
Katherine
Atlanta, GA |
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Valerie Ybarra provided post-partum doula and baby nurse services (daytime) for me over a period of seven weeks from December 2005 through February 2006. At the time that Valerie provided services I was the sole caregiver for my newborn son.
Valerie performed the following services for me:
- Provided advice and assistance with breastfeeding; answered a litany of questions about what is “normal” for a newborn as those questions arose for me with my baby (e.g., how much they eat, sleep, fuss, go to the bathroom, hiccup, spit up, get baby rashes, etc.);
- Provided helpful reading and viewing material on breastfeeding and caring for a newborn, which reinforced and extended what the nurses had taught me at the hospital;
- Provided transportation for my and my son’s doctors appointments, food shopping and other necessary shopping and errands that I needed to run;
- Prepared food and drinks for me;
- Helped with my and my baby’s laundry;
- Took care of the baby in my home or in the car when I was running errands, including feeding, changing diapers, bathing and entertainment;
- Took pictures to capture how fast he was growing and changing from week to week;
- Picked up baby items and brought them to me; and made “returns” of baby clothes and other items that I did not need.
When Valerie was taking care of the baby she was an invaluable, kind and patient teacher to me — a first time mom. This was especially true with bathing the baby (both before and after his cord had fallen off), circumcision care and dressing the baby for outings, whether he was remaining in the car or coming into the store with us. With Valerie’s services, there was a seamless transition from hospital to home. As a result, having Valerie’s help gave me notably more confidence in caring form my newborn so that I was able to more fully enjoy and focus on watching him grow and develop (so fast!) without so much worry about doing things “right” or if “everything was OK” with him.
During her entire length of service, Valerie was completely reliable and non-judgemental – she is truly someone on whom you can rely for anything and everything. No question was “stupid” and no task was “beneath” her. In addition, she made herself available for questions by phone or email when she was not working with me and I always felt she was entirely accessible. Most importantly, she was a tender, understanding, and tireless caregiver to my baby and myself, which is something that all mothers and babies need and deserve during those precious first months of the baby’s life outside the womb.
Sincerely,
Angelyn and baby Dylan
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Valerie Ybarra was our night nurse and had been with our family for 3 months from the very first arrival of our son home from the hospital. I was a bit apprehensive initially to leave him with some stranger I'd met only once before but her supportive, caring nature along with a little encouragement for me to relax enabled me to let go and get some much needed rest.
Our son, Jack had jaundice and needed the light therapy treatment at home the second night. It was painful to see your newborn having to lie on this box all night in nothing more than his diaper...he screamed every time we put him down. After hours of exhausting crying (both myself and Jack), I finally let her take over and went to sleep. Valerie was able to get him settled within 15 minutes and he was able to get the therapy he needed to reduce the levels of bilirubin to an acceptable level.
Valerie is easy going and easy to get along with. She is not invasive into your personal space. I highly recommend a NIGHT NURSE (coming from someone who wasn't sure I wanted one) and I highly recommend Valerie Ybarra.
We continue to stay in touch and use her on occasion for overnights...Please call me anytime for a reference if needed.
Sincerely,
Monica
Atlanta, GA
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Valerie Ybarra was our postpartum doula after the birth of our son, Oct 14, 2003. She came to us the day after we arrived from the hospital and was with us the first few days of our transition home. Before Joshua’s birth, Valerie was flexible and accommodating in arranging her schedule, quite important around babies. She came and met with us beforehand, establishing our needs and eating preferences and planned menus for her stay accordingly. While serving as our doula, Valerie cared for Joshua, allowing me the much needed rest and recovery and to know he was in capable hands. She served meals to my family and I, including doing the grocery shopping, did the laundry and kept the kitchen neat & organized. Interlaced with her care, she encouraged me to relax and to bring a lighthearted approach to my new role as mommy to Joshua. While I’d purchased several outfits in anticipation of his arrival, they were all too big, so Valerie shopped during the evening hours for some precious outfits that would fit him. With a 17-month old son as well, Valerie’s presence significantly eased the initial job for our family, of juggling big brother and the new baby. Thank you Valerie for your assistance.
Sharon
Buckhead, GA
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