Ursula Sabia Sukinik - Birth You Desire

Ursula was my doula for both of my pregnancies and births. Yes, I know she is technically a “birth doula,” but the support that she provided me during each of my 18 months of pregnancy was critically helpful to my positive outcomes. Both of my pregnancies were very hard, and to say that I was a high-needs pregnant lady is a huge understatement. Ursula was remarkably easy to reach and always available. One of the reasons I hired her is because she struck me as someone who didn’t have her own agenda. She is very experienced with all kinds of moms – she has even attended far more births than most midwives in the area. She also has a ton of info on just about every pregnancy complication under the sun!

Posted 5/29/2013

Ursula came highly recommended to us by a few members of my mom's group who had researched the topic of VBACs and were looking for a good experience of their own.  We didn't even do another doula search - after hearing about her two or three times, I automatically called, bonded and decided that we had to have her if at all possible!  Not only does she have a deep experience of the birthing process and high risk pregnancies, she has this intuition about what you need as a mom and she knows your limits too.  I thought this was incredibly helpful throughout my pregnancy, and I knew she was going to do her darndest to make sure my birth went the way I wanted (an unmedicated VBAC).  She also had great relationships with my midwifery practice (former WISDOM) and it helped tremendously that already knew her.  When the time came, my birth was smooth and quick and no introductions were needed.  Perhaps my Bradley teacher said it best, "Oh, you have Ursula as your doula?  You'll have nothing to worry about then...your in great hands."

Posted 5/16/2013

Ursula was a fantastic doula and the worth every penny. Being my first pregnancy, at first I was skeptical of a need for a doula. After all, I read they provide support, physically and emotionally to the laboring mother, but who couldn't do this? Having been through an excellent labor experience I can attest that the process is more emotionally laden and complex than I had anticipated and I do not think I could have gotten the experience I wanted without Ursula. My husband was exhausted, my midwife was tending to another laboring mother at the same time, and the hospital nurses probably wouldnt have been as attuned to my birth plan and needs if Ursula had not been there to support me and make sure my wishes were met when possible. She is experienced, understanding, and will work in your best interests to get you YOUR best birth experience possible. She also guided us through the labor hospital process, which would have been overwhelming in the moment had it been just me and my husband. I highly recommend Ursula and would use her again if I have another child.

Posted 5/16/2013

I highly recommend using Ursula as a doula. Simply put, Ursula made it possible for my wife to have a natural child birth without interventions through her support and knowledge.

Prior to my wife’s delivery date, Ursula was very helpful with giving advice as we prepared for the big day. She quickly responded whenever we had any questions regarding the birthing process (including helping us understand the significance of the information conveyed to us by our midwife during prenatal appointments).

On the day of delivery, she met us at our house at 1 a.m. and stayed with us there for over four hours. She let us know how long we should wait before we call the midwife/go to the hospital. Based on her advice, we stayed home for much longer than we would have had she not been there. This enabled my wife to perform labor exercises in the comfort of our own home. During this time (and throughout the remainder of my wife’s labor), Ursula gave my wife excellent advice about what exercises to do to ensure that the labor kept progressing.

Once we arrived at the hospital, Ursula continued to be a great help. Ursula was effective at keeping me involved in the labor and delivery process. I assisted my wife throughout the process and I never felt like a third wheel.

Ursula also forged a good working relationship with our OB nurses and midwife. She served as an extra set of hands for the nurses and midwife. Ursula also explained to us what was going on from a medical perspective during the labor and delivery process.

Post-partum, Ursula continued to be a valuable asset. She met with us to review our birth and gave us advice regarding post-partum recovery. She continued to be very responsive whenever we had questions regarding my wife’s recovery.

Needless to say, if we have another child we will certainly use Ursula again.
 

Posted 2/23/2013

I echo all the glowing reviews of Ursula's services. We took both Ursula's class and also used her as a doula. I can't recommend her services enough. At first, we were concerned that the class was too much of a time investment, but it's clear to us now that Ursula's instruction week after week laid the foundation for our going into labor feeling strong, empowered, and well-educated about the benefits of natural childbirth, and my capacity to do it. If I thought Ursula was fantastic as an educator, I was blown away by the care she offered as a doula. She did an amazing job of listening to me and my husband, and providing exactly the type of support that we asked for. She is caring, funny, knowledgeable and terribly passionate about her work. It's clear that Ursula loves what she does and excels at it. She is very giving of her time before, during and after labor, and I will definitely ask her to work as our doula again in future pregnancies.

Posted 2/20/2013

 As a first time  parent, I spent a lot of time & energy researching childbirth   .  I formulated strong feelings on how I hoped my first birthing experience would be. I wanted to birth in a hospital , but wanted a completely natural birth within that setting. With Ursula's help, I was able to achieve my goals. I felt empowered by Ursula's presence & encouragement.     I found great value in both Ursula's childbirth class & her support as doula. 

Posted 1/7/2013

My first two births I was with an OB and had a c/s. My third time, I wanted a completely different experience. I used Ursula as my doula as I was going for a VBA2C and was 40 when I delivered (so considered pretty high risk for a VBAC). She was able to help me decipher what was safe and realistic for me. I had a complicated labor (only 1cm after more than 24 hours of labor) and I can honestly tell you that had it not been for Ursula (and the relationship she had with my midwife) that I would have absolutely ended up with another c/s. She is direct and loving all at the same time. She is knowledgeable. She goes above and beyond for her clients. Even my husband, who is super money conscious and wasn't sure a doula was necessary, raved about Ursula at the end of our 36 hour labor....he knew that HE needed her there. That says A LOT! Even if you don’t use a doula, TAKE HER CLASS. You’d think I’d know a lot by the time my 3rd pregnancy rolled around, but I learned a ton. Plus, I’m getting together with the other Moms now that we’ve had our babies, so that is an added bonus.

Posted 9/24/2012

Ursula's enthusiasm is contagius. From the moment I met her, I knew I wanted her by my side in that delivery room. She never skipped a beat in the process. She was always thingking ahead of the game and she made the experience a truly memorable event. With Ursula on our team, we were able to focus on what really mattered that day -- the birth of our first baby and the amazing strength and beauty of the human body. I will be calling her again to support the delivery of my second baby.

Posted 9/11/2012

Ursula is AMAZING!  She taught us a private birth class 5 years ago before our first child was born, but she was unable to be our doula due to an injury.  Three years later we remembered how awesome she was and hired her to be our doula for #3.  She answered ALL of my questions no matter how dumb or repetetive they were and she's a wealth of knowledge.  I just loved being in touch with her often about everything.  For the weeks leading up to the birth, I spoke to her almost daily about different areas of concern, question, uncomfortability, etc. and she was always willing to take my calls, emails and texts.  The day of the birth she was incredible!  She was so strong - both physically and mentally - and coached me through a quick, but painful labor.  She was my cheerleader and I definitely couldn't have done it without her.  You will not go wrong with Ursula! 

Posted 9/5/2012

Ursula was a reference from my sister in law, who was her doula for her June 2010 natural birth.  I emailed Ursula just in time as I was one of her last spots left for a February 2012 delivery.  At 37 weeks Ursula met me and my husband and we went over everything.  I felt really relieved after our meeting and was excited to give birth.  We met just in time because I went into labor the next week!  It was my first pregnancy, so I was not sure if I was in labor, but I was in constant contact with Ursula via email/text/phone.  Within 7 hours and at 5 cm, Ursula was at my apartment, ready to work her doula magic to ease the throbbing pain in my sacrum.  She was quickly able to ease my pain and the contractions became much less painful.  Urusula was also in touch with my midwife the entire time on my behalf (phew!).  When we all arrived at the hospital at around 7 cm, I felt very confident in her to help me both emotionally and physically.  (My husband also had a 24 hour bug and was vomiting starting at the same time that my contractions intensified, so I was really stressed.) I was open to her homepathy like lavender oil in the birthing tub, rescue remedy in my water, jojoba oil as lubrication while pushing, etc.  After a few short hours at the hospital of goddess pose, chanting om, and trying to relax in the birthing tub, my baby popped out - only 17 minutes of pushing!   I truly mean it when I say I could not have had a natural delivery without Ursula.  It was truly empowering and amazing!  She pushed me to my limits but I could not have been happier.  I also want to add that her postpartum help was extremely valuable.  I really did not know what to do with a newborn and she was contstantly checking in on me and offering advice.  I have only great things to say - I am already looking forward to my second baby and having Ursula be my doula once again! 

Posted 9/4/2012

I reached out to Ursula to help my husband and I prepare for the birth of our second living child. Ours was a unique situation (as all births of course are) where I had experienced 3 losses prior to this birth. I was not coming to a childbirth class with the air of innocence and relaxation that I had with the birth of my first living child. She was wonderful and tailored our private classes to meet our individual needs. She gave us concrete comfort measures, practical suggestions, and when I learned that I was going to be induced, she provided excellent phone coaching prior to. Her breadth of information is incredible--she seemed to have an answer for any question I could come up with.

Posted 9/4/2012

 Ursula is an AMAZING doula, and I would have her there for my next baby!!  I had a 30hr labor without drugs and Ursula was there throughout it all!  She gave me and more importantly my husband and parents the confidence that everything was normal and progressing well.  She helped keep me calm, give me strength and guidance, and keep my family informed and at ease.  Not only was she a HUGE supporter during the birth but also before and after.  She met with my husband and I before our delivery to go over the beginning signs and signals for labor so that we felt prepared with what to accept.  And after the delivery, Ursula met with me to go over breastfeeding, and how to adjust to being a new mommy!  She also made herself available the first month for questions and concerns, which was wonderful! I had every question from mastitis, gassy baby, hiccups, sleep schedule,to breastfeeding problems.  Ursula is passionate, caring, knowledgable, and makes you feel completely comfortable in your most vulnerable state. She is an absolute gem!! love her! 

Posted 8/31/2012

Ursula was amazing throughout my entire pregnancy and delivery. She's always available - by text, phone, or email. When I went into labor, she was at our house quickly, and calmed me down as I was quite nervous. At the hospital, she never left my side. She brought water and juice, suggested different positions, etc. She also took pictures occasionally throughout the process, which were great to see after our daughter was born. Ursula listens to your concerns, addresses them, gives you your options in a cool, and level-headed manner. I would recommend her (and have) to anyone who's having a baby.

She also came over to meet with us a few days after we got home from the hospital, which was particularly helpful for us as first-time parents. She showed us how to get her safely into the sling, gave us some general tips and advice, and reassured me that it was okay for her to get a little bit of formula since she had jaundice. (I am personally pro-breastfeeding, so was worried that she wouldn't want breastmilk after getting formula)

All in all, Ursula is fantastic, and whenever we have our next baby, we'll be hiring her again.

 

Posted 8/31/2012

Ursula is an absolutely amazing birth assistant.  During my 34 hour labor, she worked tirelessly to make sure I was comfortable and that I had the best delivery possible. When my labor was regressing, my midwife suggested I go to the hospital.  Ursula quickly suggested we go to a nearby where she had connections.  When we got to the hospital, we did not have to wait at all. Ursula did all the prep work. My husband and I did not have to worry about the hospital procedures and could focus on the labor.  She made sure I was comfortable and that everything went smoothly. She stayed with me until after I had the baby and after she knew I was doing well before she left.  She is that ideal combination of knowledgeable, caring and passionate about her craft.  I give her my highest recommendation as a birth assistant or doula.

Posted 8/31/2012

We received great guidance over the phone on possible options of labor and what we were looking for in terms of signs. Ursula gave us the option to call her as many times in the night as we needed. Ursula checked in with us all day to see how things were progressing all while updating our midwives. Just as Ursula said, the contractions came around 4ish and started to come more frequently around 6. When we asked her to come over, she arrived within 25 min (MD to DC midtown) and immediately calmed my wife down as I got ready to go. We immediately got in the car and made it over to GW with Ursula following and she updated the midwives on the way. We had to park a couple blocks away and Ursula helped us navigate the busy streets and get to the hospital all while my wife had 5 contractions. In the hospital, Ursula got us into the delivery room. I wanted to take an active part in the birth and Ursula was there to help me with techniques to help my wife through this difficult time. She was very respectful of when to chime in and when to let me and my wife surrender to the experience. She was incredibly helpful in the delivery process and had a great working relationship with the entire birthing team. Once the baby was born Ursula was great in helping my wife overcome her shell shock and immediately helped my daughter to latch onto my wife’s breast while the midwives were finishing up. Ursula was one of the last people to leave our sides as the birth came to an end. The follow up consultation was great, Ursula came to our house a couple of days after we got home from the hospital and was very helpful answering all of our lingering questions that we didn’t know to ask while still at the hospital. I would give Ursula’s service an A++ rating and would definitely recommend her to anyone.

Posted 9/16/2011

Working with Ursula was amazing. She is VERY knowledgeable, personable and awesome as a birth assistant. She assisted me in my 2nd birth and really supported and guided me through natural childbirth. ( with a somewhat challenging presentation of my son) She is FABULOUS and anyone would be lucky to work with her.

Posted 8/31/2011

This was my first child, and i was very surprised by the lack of information provided to me through my obgyn's office. i've talked to a lot of friends and they have felt the same. I think you really need to supplement and do your own research so that you know your options.

We got to know Ursula well through taking her birthing class (which I also highly suggest taking). Ursula is very approachable and super easy to talk to, and she always took my questions seriously regardless of the topic. I also took great comfort in knowing that she was always available to talk. Ursula is an amazing person who is extremely passionate about child birth. She is experienced and as a result is a wealth of information. 

Ursula was a huge part of my labor and delivery and I honestly do not think I could have done a natural birth without her there for me that day and leading up to it as well. She also encouraged chiropractic care throughout my entire pregnancy, which i also encourage. While i was in labor Ursula was able to offer wonderful advice and guidance. She was also able to offer encouragement and support. It's very easy to get lost in the process and she kept us on track. There are so many things that Ursula said that made so much sense and made everything seem calmer. She was also an asset at the hospital because she was able to help us better understand our options.

I have so many positive things to say about her. I feel lucky that she was there with us. I highly recommend her to anyone looking for a doula. 

Posted 8/29/2011

From one husband to another, I would highly recommend both taking her class (for new parents) and hiring her as a doula for the birth. For me, I could not imagine going through this amazing process without knowing what to expect and her class did just that in a relaxed and open atmosphere. As for the big event, she was unbelievable - hands on, knowledgeable, confident, experienced - making the event a lot more personal, relaxed, enjoyable and meaningful. In hindsight, my wife and I would not have done it any other way. In fact, next time my wife and I plan on trying for another munchkin, I am checking Ursula's availabilities 9 months out first :)

Posted 8/29/2011

 Ursula is fantastic! We couldn't have asked for a better birth experience and it is in large part due to the great preparation and support we had with Ursula. From making sure I was physically prepared (including: stopping by my house to try a variety of ways to turn my baby when he was in an uncomfortable position, referring me to her vast network of related providers, making sure I was eating the right things in the right amounts, etc.) to mentally prepared (including an in depth pre-natal couples interview, phone check ins, counseling on birth plan and post-natal plan, and frequent post-natal check ins), she did it all. She was available at the drop of a hat for my labor which proceeded very quickly (and on Mother's Day no less!), and she was welcome support during my laboring at home and my rush into the hospital and through delivery. Her knowledge not just of labor and delivery (and every possible permutation) but of our hospital and providers proved invaluable and were critical in our having a safe delivery (that didn't end up with an 8 lb baby on the side of the road - which nearly happened!). She has an amazing ability as well to "translate" what is happening to the laboring mother throughout the process. And her intuitive sense of how people take in and respond to information makes her delivery of the content as well as format/tone comprehensible. We are so glad we had her as part of the most important day of our lives!

Posted 8/29/2011

Ursula is an amazing, competent, experienced, strong, sensitive, intuitive supporter for all women who want a satisfying, empowering, and personalized birth experience. She was referred to my husband and I by two friends who had made use of her Doula services during hospital births.  As we decided to have a natural child birth at home with midwives, I knew Bradley classes were the way to go so we chose to attend classes with Ursula.   After each Bradley class both my husband and I would feel validated for our choice, supported, and enthusiastic about what we were going to experience with the birth of our child thanks to Ursula.  In addition to how informative she was, Ursula also displayed a sensitivity and understanding about how experiences in a woman's life might affect labor and was prepared to work with whatever might have come up as a result.   Ursula was the first to arrive at the house after I had labored with my husband for ten hours  overnight. Her energy was perfect and I knew I could now just let go and let the process unfold. While everyone who was there was wonderful, it is Ursula's strength and clarity that I drew upon at some of the toughest times.  She knew when I needed an explanation of what was happening to help me get through it.  It is her strong presence that was so constant throughout the many hours of a very difficult labor. From making sure I had the bowl when I was about to get sick to trying to feed me quinoa and honey after many hours of taking in nothing but a few sips of water to holding my legs as I pushed for over an hour Ursula was there. When it was time to push after so 28 hours of labor, it is Ursula's strength that I remember the most which helped me get through the next 1.5 hrs. I feel blessed to have had her with me for one of the most incredible experiences of my life, and my husband feels the same. We highly recommend her!  

Posted 12/14/2010

We knew we wanted a doula from the beginning, as we had no family in the area and were truly solo during the pregnancy and birth process. I loved her no-nonsense approach and frank answers to all my questions and knew right away she was the right doula for us. My preference was always for a natural childbirth, and knew that I could not do it without help or instruction in the process, so arranged to take private Bradley classes from Ursula as well. Her realistic approach and extensive knowledge of the practices of both my OB practice and the hospital I was delivering in, gave us confidence and assurance that we could have the birth we wanted. From the very beginning of labor she was there by phone, and as soon as active labor started she came to our house and provided emotional and physical support in the process. Based on the time she took with us before the birth, she knew what to say and when to say it, and was an infinite help in allowing us to stay home for as long as possible, then providing the same knowledgeable support once we arrived at the hospital. Though my labor was short, it was intense, and know that Ursula’s support made the experience possible.

Posted 11/15/2010

After a 32 hour labor, I gave birth to a 10lb, 10oz baby boy without the use of pain medications. If it weren’t for Ursula, I am sure my experience of birth would have been quite different.

Ursula first influenced us through her Bradley classes, where she impressed me with her breadth of knowledge and experience.  I also liked her assertive yet conscientious personality.  Because of her classes, my husband and I ended up switching from an OB/GYN practice to a midwife practice, and we chose to have Ursula attend our birth as our doula.  I knew when I would be in labor, my ability to make decisions for myself would be compromised, and so I wanted to put in place people I trusted to help make decisions for me, because my goal above all was to avoid a C-section.

That being said, if it weren't for Ursula' s influence, I am fairly certain I would have ended up with a C-section, given the size of my baby, my slow progression, and the fact that my water broke first and I passed the 24 hour window (to name a few, of many, risk factors). When I was only 3.5 cm dilated after 24 hours of labor, I didn’t think I could do it any more and asked for the epidural. Ursula gently suggested that we try the jacuzzi first, which I agreed to. She then helped me through the next most difficult 7 hours of my life as I progressed to fully dilated and was ready to push. She coached me through the pushing stage, teaching me verbally how to push effectively. This is where I became certain that if I had the epidural and couldn’t feel what I was doing, I may not have been able to push out my 10lb, 10oz baby boy!

If my husband and I are blessed enough to have another child, we will definitely ask Ursula to attend our birth again. Her support was indispensable!

Posted 11/1/2010

Our experience with Ursula was amazing!! She was extremely helpful and truly a partner for both me and my husband. For me, she was a huge support while I initially labored at home. I called her many times and she explained everything, so that I could know exactly what was going on and what to expect next. When she came to our house to assist me before going to the hospital, she calmed both me and my husband. Moreover, she gave me strategies to lessen the discomfort of each contraction. At the hospital she was an emotional and physical support to me. She coached my husband on how to assist me. Everything she explained was knowledgable and reassuring. She explained our options with each decision. With the hospital staff, Urusla was very deliberate in assisting and explaining to them where I was, served as my advocate, while at the same time, she did not step on staffs' toes. We truly felt that Ursula was caring and a part of our family during the entire process. She is extremely genuine, caring and knowledgable. We would recommend her in a heartbeat!

Posted 9/26/2010

I tell everyone thinking of a childbirth class about Ursula. She was our instructor for our first Bradley baby, and invited us back at no charge for refreshers before our second Bradley baby. We did not choose to use a doula for either birth. However, I regret not enlisting her for support for our second. Our first was a dream...9 lbs 14 oz after 2 1/2 hours pushing (hard work but manageable pain) and a total of 3 1/2 hours of labor. Our midwife was the best in town so we got lucky that time. Our second baby we had less knowledge about and she was less experienced. While the labor was again 3 1/2 hours, and just 12 minutes of pushing, I would consider it a far more difficult childbirth. I WISH I had Ursula there. I am quite sure it would have been a very different, more manageable and comfortable experience. My husband did his best but was a bit freaked out and didn't know how to advocate for me the way I am sure Ursula would have. The hot tub was lukewarm, I felt unsure about the best pushing position, and we arrived before the midwife due to a communication breakdown. I think most, if not all of this would have been avoided had we been better linked with Ursula. She is SO knowledgable, not to mention incredibly committed.

Though I've told her in person, I hope she reads this to know how indebted we are to her for the phenomenal education she provided us. We credit her with providing the key to us having natural childbirth both times, with two beautiful daughters. If I may add, Ursula's education on breastfeeding contributed to us maximizing this with our daughters. Our first grew quickly but our second was 24 lbs 5 oz at six months...completely on breast milk...and such a happy baby. The bond that started immdiately after her birth was supported by her being born naturally...something I couldn't have done without the knowledge I gained from Ursula.

Thank you for your dediation, Ursula.

Posted 9/25/2010

We took Ursula's Bradley class and she was our doula for our first child - a natural childbirth in a hospital after 49 hours of labor.  Ursula does not push you to have a baby "her way", she enables and empowers you to have your baby your way.

In the months before the birth, she met with us to discuss what we wanted from the process and what role we wanted her to play.  She asked lots of good questions to learn more about how us as we prepared to go through the process together.

My wife had contractions for days before she went into active labor and Ursula was available via phone and text message at all hours.  When active labor began she came to our house.  12 hours later we left for the hospital and 12 hours after that we had our baby.  At times there were minor complications, but we were able to face them - confident in our preparation and supported by our doula.

Through all of this Ursula was a coach, confidant, guru, photographer, cheerleader, friend and consumate professional.  She enabled me to be a coach for my wife and a full participant in the birth of our son.  I highly recommend her to anyone who is having a baby.

Posted 9/25/2010

Ursula was our Bradley instructor for our first child.  At first, we were a little uncertain about using a doula.  Eventually, though, we began to realize how helpful a more experienced person helping us would be.   We decided on Ursula because we already knew her and figured it would be the easiest transition.  We now realize it would have been a great fit even if we hadn't already known her.

She was, quite simply, phenomenal.  She was extremely easy to work with, deeply knowledgable and very skilled at her trade.  We had worried that having a doula would just be another person to get in the way, but Ursula ended up being the one making sure everyone was where they were supposed to be.  She seemed to have an instinct for when to transition from assistant to director as needed and never made either of us feel uncomfortable (or superfluous).  Even after 40 hours of work, she was still going strong and stayed with us through to the end.

We can honestly say that without Ursula, the birth of our first child might have been a considerably uglier and more painful affair.  We would completely recommend her to anyone and we intend to use her for our next birth.

Posted 9/21/2010