Sarah Booten Doula Profile

Describing what Sarah Booten means to me seems an impossible feat in and of itself let alone attempting to describe her work in 1800 characters. I am the proud mother of a beautiful baby girl who I love with all my heart. This statement may not seem odd or unusual to hear unless you knew me a few weeks ago. I was a hormonal, new, single mom suffering from post partum depression and in intense physical and mental pain. I was nowhere close to feeling what I believed a mother was capable of. Sarah is the reason that I have been able to reach a place of peace, understanding, and most importantly - love. Sarah reached out to offer her help early on in my pregnancy, but it wasn’t until a week before my due date that I was finally able to let her. She helped me induce labor naturally, came over day and night, walked with me, talked with me, cried with me, watched my contractions, and then accompanied my family and me to the hospital. Sarah was so helpful talking me through my contractions, the worst physical pain of my life. Due to her support, along with my family, I was able to have a drug free birth. Sarah became so important during labor that when the doctor made two people leave, I asked (pleaded with) Sarah to stay in place of my own mother and sister. When the doctor placed the baby on my chest, I felt detached. Sarah helped me bond with my daughter. After the birth, Sarah helped me fight thrush, engorgement, mastitis, depression, and an oversupply of milk. She made me feel so comfortable that I was able to share the pain of past sexual abuse that caused me to want to stop nursing. Because of her, and of course my own strong will, I am still successfully exclusively breastfeeding two months later. Sarah took me on pro bono, and I am not sure I will ever be able to repay her for the way she touched my life. I only hope that I can spread the word to other women about the incredible, amazing, wonderful, beautiful, gift from God – Sarah Booten.

Sarah is an amazingly strong, experienced and caring person that we were lucky to have as our doula. Her life has truly prepared her for her profession -  I could tell just from our first interview that helping mothers bring their babies into the world was truly her lifes work.  She is completely committed to the idea that women deserve a positive birth experience, no matter what kind of birth you have. 

After trying for a natural birth, I had an extremely difficult labor that lasted about 48 hours, ending in an emergency c-section for a very large and transverse baby.  Sarah stayed with my husband and I for the long haul, never losing energy and doing everything she possibly could to turn our baby as well as supporting me when I was at my most vulnerable. I am so thankful to have had someone like Sarah with us in the delivery room, reassuring my husband and I, and helping me manage the pain, while all around us hospital staff came and left and changed shifts.  

I had spent my pregnancy worrying about the possibility of having a c-section and had done everything I could think of to prevent it (childbirth classes, yoga, and of course a doula, etc.).  When it became clear that our daughter was not going to be pushed out she supported me in my decision in a way that let me know everything was going to be OK. As I was brought to the OR, (no doulas allowed) she stayed with my husband who was exhausted and emotionally spent and gave him  much needed support. Did I mention that this was happening while Sarah herself was pregnant and in her first trimester? Like I said, strong! When we were finally able to bring our girl home Sarah was immensely helpful as a lactation consultant. Also, she knows her breast pumps. As a working mom this was invaluable. To this day Sarah and I have remained friends, bonded by the experience of her longest labor.