Samantha A.

9/12/2024

I chose to work with a doula because I wanted to tackle my second birth slightly different from my first. I was looking for someone who was knowlegeable, kind and strong. I decided to move forward with Sunday after it became apparent that she was going to check way more than the silly boxes I had in my head. She asked me more questions about my birth than I ever thought possible and made me feel comfortable each time I reached out to her before my birth. I needed someone who knew what I wanted as well as I did, and someone who would remind me of what I wanted during labor. While in active labor, she predicted the actions of my midwives so that I was able to make decisions in advance. I felt more prepared and confident in these decisions because I was given "extra" time to talk them through. During labor, when I was sure I couldn't do it any longer, she gave me a little bit of tough love and reminded me that at this point there was no turning back. I couldn't have dreamed of having a better labor guide. After labor she continued to check in on me and I was so very excited to have her back in my home for a visit. I will advocate for having a doula to be in your corner, but we are lucky our doula got to be Sunday. 

Gina Guzowski

8/9/2019

My husband and I had a wonderful experience having Sunday as our birth doula during the birth of our 4th child, which was a VBA3C.  We chose Sunday because of her extensive experience and wisdom supporting women who have experienced birth and trauma.  The biggest benefit of having her as a doula was her ability to recognize how my baby was trying to move down or position himself during labor. She was able to ask me questions to determine where he might be and how to get him in a better position. When she offered suggestions and positions to try I could tell very quickly that it was helping him move and helping my contractions become longer, stronger, closer and more conistent.  This was my shortest and most comfortable labor and I attribute it to my preparation throughout pregnancy, confidence in myself, my care provider, and Sunday's calm prescence throughout my labor and delivery. The days leading up to labor she was available by phone and text to reassure me and encourage me. When labor began with signs I had not previously experienced she was able to reassure me everything was normal and that this labor would indeed me quicker. She was also prompt at arriving when we asked her to come to our home and able to recognize when we needed to head to the hospital.  When I was unsure of a couple situations during my delivery and especially the initial postpartum period I could look to her and make eye contact to know if something was necessary or unnecessary and if everything was normal.   Her follow up and encouragment during the post partum period was very helpful and much appreciated. Her suggestions for healing the tissues stressed and stretched during delivery was also very helpful.  I wish I would have been able to have Sunday by my side for the first 3 birth experiences. She was truly the perfect woman to have by my side during a time that was tremendously important to me, which was succeeding in a VBA3C!

Lacey Caporale

3/4/2019

Sunday was an invaluable part of my birthing experience. Prior to the birth of my son, Sunday provided me with the confidence and assurance that a non-medicated, vaginal birth is possible. During the labor, when I was losing hope and energy, Sunday offered a pushing technique that I had never heard of. Sunday suggested that I lift my belly while pushing, essentially readjusting the baby's position to better prepare for his birth. Within minutes the midwife and more nurses were called in because baby boy was on his way! Not only was Sunday comforting, encouraging and calm for my labor and delivery, her suggestion is what brought my baby boy into the world safely and in my ideal way. I can't thank Sunday enough for her support on this very special day in my life. 

Barbie Estrada

11/18/2018

Hiring Sunday and Alicia as my doula team was the best decision I made for my birth. Having a previous c-section, I had a lot of fears about the birthing experience during my second pregnancy, and I hired Sunday because of her experience with VBACs. The support I received from my doulas in the months leading up to by baby girl’s birth, during the birthing experience, and afterwards was exceptional. Sunday gave me reassurance and exercises to do when I was concerned about the baby being in optimal position during the third trimester. She reassured me with her soothing voice and calm hand during labor. She encouraged me through different positions to help regulate and strengthen contractions – positions I would have never known to try. When my labor was slow, she explained to me what has happening with my contraction pattern, proving her experience and knowledge. She empowered me through the whole experience, which culminated in a successful VBAC – a feat I’m not sure I would have been able to achieve without Sunday and Alicia. Suffice it to say, I wouldn’t birth again without them.

Emily Stefanak

4/8/2018

Deciding to have a doula and then choosing Sunday were two of the best choices we ever could have made for the birth of our first child. We knew we wanted a natural childbirth in a hospital and that, statistically, a great way to help insure that was by hiring a doula. Sunday turned out to be even better than we ever could have imagined. She was comforting and one of the most calm people I have ever met. We touched base with her when we thought labor began and later she came to our house and was a reassuring presence. I had a long labor and truly belief we would have gone to the hospital too early had it not been for her guidance. After her being at our house and slow progressing labor, she went home for us to all try and rest. We went to the hospital later and after I was progressing and we called her and asked her to, she joined us and coached us until our daughter was finally born naturally and beautifully. Because Sunday was present, we were able to achieve our goal of a natural delivery and have wonderful memories saved in pictures and a written account of events. We are thankful for the skill, knowledge, and expertise of Sunday Tortelli!

Rachel Czyzak

1/25/2018

With my second delivery, I was very surprised how absent the hospital staff was during labor. Since I was hooked up to a monitor, they could see if my labor was progressing from their nursing station and didn’t come in much to see how I was doing mentally and emotionally. Sunday provided such comfort and reassurance that what I was going through was normal, positive and would lead us to meeting our baby! If my husband and I would have been on our own, I would have felt anxious and isolated.

When we hired Sunday, I knew I could count on her to help me during labor. What I was surprised by was how much she also helped my husband: she helped show him how to help me, she helped him cope with seeing me so uncomfortable, she helped him take care of himself by being with me so he could rest during the downtime in labor and take a break from the room when things were a bit too intense.

I cannot say enough about Sunday Tortelli! As a doula, we chose her because my husband felt most comfortable with her since she was our Birthworks instructor and he got to see that she wasn’t a rogue hippy that didn’t believe in modern medicine - he saw that she is extremely experienced and educated in the realm of pregnancy and postpartum care. Her personality is overflowing with kindness and gentleness that brings ease to sometimes tough situations. Sunday is unconditionally supportive. We wanted a doula that could strike the tough balance of being present/supportive while recognizing that birth is an intimate family moment - Sunday did absolutely that. When my husband and I found out we were expecting our second child, Sunday was our first call because she is an invaluable resource and person we hope can be a part of the birth of all of our children.