 Dear Candy...We wanted to send you our "Thank You" a long time ago...(I just haven't been able to get anything done!) & to tell you how much we appreciated your quick response, firm, but loving lead, and positive support at Sho's birth. You helped me to have the birth I wanted and you stayed calm throughout the most stressful situation. We admire your confidence. You were always available to us before and after the birth. Whenever I needed you, you were there. You're always very thoughtful & full of joy! I respect your hard working character, you're always willing to learn and improve your skills. I fell in love with your beautiful heart. You became more than just a midwife to me. You're my special friend. I'm so grateful that God sent you to my life & to my family's. I hope you'll get to see Sho again. He has grown a lot! And he smiles, does cute funny faces. He's such a wonderful little thing! The other boys are also doing well. They're my true joy. Well, say hello to your family for me. Talk to you soon. Love, Yoko
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 Dear Candy...Thanks for all your caring and support. We don't know what would have happened had you not been there. It's a shame there are not more caring midwives like you. We know God will bless you in your future goals and we wish you and your family the very best. Love, The Toms...Robert, Shalene, Melissa, Melanie, Micah & especially Malachi
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 Candace...Every time we share our birth video with family or look at TJ's first pictures from the hospital - we think of you. You were such an integral and calm presence through the entire birthing process. The information you provided us with gave us the confidence to feel empowered in our decision making when it mattered most. You ensured our birth plan became a reality - and this was not an easy task considering the many obstacles we faced with my cerclage, chronic high blood pressure, premature labor and doctors who told us we wouldn't succeed at every turn. God put you in our path and lives and for that we are forever grateful. We could not have asked for a more perfect birthing experience. Thank you Candace! We look forward to working with you again in about a year! -The Silvas Family
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 Candy...Offering your hand, giving your time, showing you care, Thank You!! Words can't express my thanks for having you help me and support me during Katelynne's birth. Just having you there gave me a sense of peace. Thanks for believing in me that I could have a VBAC. I'm so glad I did! You're a blessing to us and we thank God for you! Love, Tiffany, Jimmy, Grace & Katelynne
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 Candy...Thank you so much for supporting Adam and I through the end of our pregnancy, & labor, & delivery. You made our birth experience wonderful and we could not have done it without you! I love to tell me birth story to everyone & I feel it turned out perfectly. Thanks Again! Love, Robin & Adam
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 Dearest Candy...Thank you for all your loving support in bringing me into the world, and for taking such good care of mom, and dad too! Lots of Love, Hayden
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 Dear Candy...Thank you for making my mom more comfortable and helping her make it through delivery. It meant a lot to my dad! Love, Alya
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 Dear Candy...I just watched "A Baby Story" for the first time. At the birth part I found myself crying "like a baby"- in a beautiful good way. Tyler was sleeping in front of me & every image of our birth I could picture again...that moment he came out, warm, slimey & perfect is life changing. And the sense of accomplishment I feel is so deep by making it through without medication. I feel forever indebted to you for this experience. Thank you also for the awesome classes; for instilling confidence; for helping me find the perspective that although I personally desired to trust my body & have a natural birth- it is not for everybody and no matter how a baby comes out it is birth & something to be proud of (when I hear the word cesarean I think "birth" & encourage others in that too!); thank your family for the 13 hours away from them to support us; for every call & question answered- you are priceless! I've read that the overwhelming joy you feel at birth is the same way heaven rejoices when someone accepts God's unconditional gift of his son. This entire week I've felt that joy & God's love as I hold my son. And to top it off- to trust that God made my body capable of such an event is like a "right of passage"- I'm now a MOM! Thank you Candy- for helping make this the most amazing experience of my life! I DID IT! Of all I hoped and dreamed of- I felt like I conquered the world! And all you did was not unnoticed...for every cold cloth, every cup of juice or water, breathing with me through transition, encouraging words, and of course- strong hands for counterpressure- supporting Scott, thank you many times over! "Beautiful faces are they that wear- The light of a pleasant spirit there; Beautiful hands are they that do- Deeds that are noble, good and true; Beautiful feet are they that go- Swiftly to lighten another's woe." Thank you Candy, for being a beautiful help and teammate in life's most amazing moment: Birth! Love, Krista
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 Dear Candy...Alas! I finally have this moment to send our deepest thanks for your awesome support at the birth of our second baby, Kai (a natural VBAC). It truly was an experience of a lifetime which was filled with so much love. Thank you also for educating us with your knowledge, books and videos about the natural birth process. It helped us have the ability to look at our options and choose for the best. We wish you well on your journey towards midwifery as we can clearly see, a midwife is what you are meant to be. With Love, May, Paul, Berkeley & Kai
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 Candy...We wanted to thank you for all your help bringing our little Tess into the world... We couldn't have done it without you...Thanks for all your wise expertise... Until the next one (can you believe I said that?) Love, Rink, Linda & Tess
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 Dear Candy...Thank you so much for coming all the way out to Japan to help me have my baby. Honestly, I don't know if I could have done it (a VBAC) naturally without you. I especially liked how you worked with the hospital to get what I wanted, and not against anyone. I am very pleased with how it all turned out. Now, you are an extremely fun person to be around! And a very easy houseguest. I wish I could have been a better hostess. Anyway, I love your enthusiasm for life, and Japan. Thanks for letting us keep a copy of your Japan pictures. Please keep in touch! Love, The Sundaramurthys
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 To Whom It May Concern...My husband and I highly recommend Candace Leach as a doula. She became our birth assistant in the eleventh hour: when I was four centimeters dilated and our original doula that we hired was nowhere to be found, despite our several calls to her over a five hour period. Despite the fact that Candace received our call at 6 a.m. on a Sunday morning and was asked to come to the hospital to assist our birth even though she had never met us- and had no deposit or any other monetary assurance from us- she rushed to the hospital and was a beam of sunshine when she walked through the door. She treated us like she had known us forever, her warm and comforting demeanor instantly putting our minds at ease. Thanks to Candace, my husband and I had the wonderful birth we imagined. It was quick, easy, safe, and 100% natural- no epidural, induction, continual monitoring, etc. During the entire process, she encouraged me to follow my instincts and gave me confidence and peace of mind. It felt extremely reassuring having someone by my side that I trusted completely to guide me through. Most notably, my pain lessened and my labor sped up considerably after she arrived. When she got to the hospital at 6:45 a.m., I was five centimeters dilated. Our daughter was born at 8:45 a.m.- a mere two hours later. Since Tyler and I experienced the first five hours of my labor with a no-show doula, we really got to see the difference between having a doula by our side versus being all alone. Being alone was stressful and rather frightening, and this tension elongated my labor. We can't imagine Candace not having been at our birth. Candace is someone who clearly has a genuine love for what she does and a very big heart. We recommend her to other couples without hesitation. April
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 Candy...Thank you so much for coming to the birth of our baby. Your presence was a blessing to us. The Codding Family
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 Dear Candy...We can't thank you enough for being there during our daughter Brianne's birth. It must have been very strange for you to come to our home having never met us before, but you stepped right in when we needed you. Since this was our first child and we hadn't planned a homebirth (their birthcenter closed down the day before their baby was born...2 weeks early), the biggest thing that we needed was encouragement that the delivery was going well and that is exactly what you gave us. Your constant words of calm reassurance helped us through the hard parts and enabled us to enjoy the miracle of Brianne's birth. You allowed me to listen to my body and do what was best for us and our baby. We are so blessed that God provided you to help make our birth experience everything we hoped it could be. If we are still in the area when we are expecting our next little one, we will definitely be calling you. Sincerely, Chad & Stephanie
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 Dear Candy...Thank you so much for helping me have the birth that I always wanted. As you know, my first birth was not so great. A couple of weeks before my second baby, I knew that the midwife I had was not really there for me. Fortunately, that's when I found you. After that, everything started to fall into place. That is the way that it should be. You came over to my home, got to know my son, did our prenatals- all in the privacy of my home. You gave me emotional support as well as every detail of medical knowledge that I wanted. You were always kind and understanding, making every effort to grant my requests. This was the foundation that supported a smooth labor and safe delivery. I am so happy that I had a satisfying birth with my family. I feel so empowered that I delivered a healthy, nine pound, four and a half ounce baby girl! Thank you for ensuring I had no tear and no episiotomy (not to mention no drugs, no irritating hospital staff, and no drama)! If I get pregnant again, I will have you attend the birth of that child as well. I will always remember your kind, warm face and your relaxing, warm hands that provided me so much relief. You are very knowledgeable but more importantly, very kind and compassionate. Sincerely, Amanda
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 Thank You Candy...Words can't describe how grateful I am that you were there for me at Riley's birth. I knew when I decided to become a surrogate mom that things would be different than when I had my own daughter. When I first looked into having a doula I wasn't sure what to look for, but then I met you and I knew from that point that you would be perfect. You supported me before, during and after the birth and I appreciate that. After being involved with surrogacy since 2000 I have heard heart breaking stories of loving couples so desperate to have children but their infertility or disease stops them from having a family. I thank God everyday that I am able to have babies without complications and I thank God that you were there to support Rick and I. You supported us in everyway you could and I am glad I got to share this amazing surrogacy journey with you. Riley is doing great with his family and he is growing bigger everyday. Thank you so much for everything you have done for me. You are the BEST! Love, Kelli
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 Thanks for all your hardwork, Candy...For both of my home births, without my even having to ask, Candy turned her presence up when I needed her and faded quietly into the background when I wanted to be alone or just with my husband. She seemed to be able to intuit my needs without words. My husband, Adam, said that he thought perhaps Candy would in some way replace him during labor but he never felt she eclipsed him or stepped on his feet. Instead, she added depth to his role as a labor partner when he was ready to ask for help. She suggested labor positions and emotional support ideas that might not have otherwise occurred to him. He also said that Candy's experience with childbirth, neonatal CPR and newborn care made him feel safer about having a home birth the first time around. My first home birth was much more erratic than my second, including almost 24 hours of on and off contractions. I didn't know what to expect since it was my first labor at home and needed a lot from Candy -- everything from the mundane, like endless glasses of watered down juice, to physical demands like help in and out of hot showers to heartfelt moral support and woman-to-woman, mother-to-mother encouragement. She gently reassured me that my son, Kade, would really arrive okay and that I'd survive the painful contractions. I remember physically leaning on Candy a lot during many tumultuous moments. My second birth at home intensified really fast. I closed my eyes and curled up in the fetal position on my bed to cope with the waves of pain. Candy placed a cool, wet facecloth on my forehead and stayed quietly at my side. It's hard to explain, but she compassionately honored me and made me feel safe and respected in my childbirth journey. Something I really like about Candy is that she is very relaxed, even in tense situations. She managed to find a smile where I could only see stress, especially when it came to prenatal office visits when during my third pregnancy I had to bring along my two bouncing-boy toddlers. She went out of her way to include my children, so that they would feel special even with another sibling on the way. She showed my first-born a video about becoming a big brother and always treated him very sweetly. I found comfort in the fact that she is the oldest of many siblings and has two awesome kids of her own. My sons took pride in being able to assist her during her home visits, digging through her supplies bag, taking off down the hall with her tape measurer and "helping" take my blood pressure. I'll always remember Candy delicately journeying with me through the joys and pain of labor with her gentle approach, ready for anything in her crisp white button-down shirt and jeans, scrambling to capture the moment on video or digital camera while still being at the ready down to each baby's crowning. Nowadays I have my hands very full with my 5-year-old, 2-year-old and 1-year-old, and have no plans for more kids. Though it sounds crazy, fond memories of Candy's afternoon prenatal home visits make me miss being pregnant just a little bit. She really made me feel special and agreed with me on how much of a birth rite and right of passage childbirth really is for women. She respected my birth choices (no drugs, home delivery and total rawness) and never let me down. Thanks for all your hardwork, Candy. With much gratitude, Kim Lachance Shandrow
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 Candy...Thanks for being such a wonderful part of the birth of Solenne. Peace and blessings to you and yours, The Shandrows
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Candy...We would have never made it without you. Thank you so very much from the bottom of our hearts. You'll always be a part of our little family. Lots and Lots of Love, Pravin, Ursula & Baby
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 Dear Candy...Just a little note to thank you so very much for all your love and support during our pregnancy. You are a special and very wonderful person and you should be proud of yourself for the job that you do. We could not have done it without you and we are truly blessed to have met you! Thank you again for everything! Lots of Love, David & Julie & Mackenzie
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 Dear Candy...I want to again thank you for being there during my pregnancy and especially during my labor and delivery! Just your presence made it possible for me to hold out a little longer (actually a lot longer) than I would have without you there (a natural VBAC). Your concern and interest afterwards was so sweet...I felt like I had two moms. I hope we continue to have some kind of relationship that enables us to see our families grow and blossom. With Love, Lisa
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 Candace...We wanted to thank you for helping us deliver Sofia. You definately made the experience less traumatizing. Who knew we would have had so many nurses (11 nurses in labor during one 12 hour shift). You were the continuity we needed to get through it happily. Thanks again. Love, Ellen, Denis, & Baby Sofia
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 Dear Candy...I read this article about doulas and thought of you! I hope you had a Merry Christmas with your family. We are all doing great! Ryan is seven months old and is a happy, healthy baby, we all love him, especially his big brother Adam. I think of you often, whenever I stop to realize how quickly Ryan is growing, I think back to the day he was born! I'll always have special memories. Thank you for being there. Best Wishes, Alisa
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 Candy...Thank you for making Alyssa's birth such a wonderfully comfortable experience! I can't wait to give her a brother or sister! Hope to see you then! Love, Heather, Miguel, & Alyssa
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- Candace Leach, LM, CPM
- Licensed Midwife & Certified Doula
- PO Box 4714 Lakewood, CA 90711
- 562-272-4541
- midwife@birthgoddess.com
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© Candace Leach, LM, CPM 1996 - 2012
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