This is where it all began. When I was invited to attend the birth of my friend Yael’s first child (pictured here), back in 2001. She was the kind of person who loved to be touched all labor long. My hand was still cupping her sacrum when this photo was taken.   Fast forward to the second birth I attended, where my friend literally could not tolerate a hand on her body. These were perfect early doula experiences, demonstrating the range that touch can play in the realm of bir