Diane

4/7/2023

Anna was a tremendous support to me and my husband throughout the pregnancy and during delivery and I would recommend her to anyone and everyone. I really gained a friend and someone to lean on for advice in a way that I would not have felt comfortable going to anyone else for. It seems as though everyone has a bias about their own pregnancies and what worked best for them, and it was nice to have Anna talk through what to expect and what decisions we would face so that we could plan in advance and ultimately make decisions that worked best for us. All of her one on one sessions were efficient and informative .. and anyone who is expecting and a bit nervous at the journey ahead should 100% contact Anna because she made us feel confident and excited going into our third trimester and that was the greatest value of all. Plus— having her 1-on-1 support during the actual delivery was great to not just have a friendly face in the room but also to make the actual delivery day one that is relaxing and enjoyable thanks to her methods and props. Highly recommend!

Taylor Jackson

3/28/2023

Anna is AMAZING. Don't think twice about it - hire her to be on your birth team.

She was calm, kind, steady, and so helpful throughout our entire pregnancy and birth process. We were lucky enough to hire Anna early on in our pregnancy and to be able to take a birth class with her (highly recommend). Despite a complicated pregnancy and delivery, we felt informed, empowered, and at peace with our decisions - and that's 100% because of Anna's efforts in preparing us for labor and in supporting us on the day of our birth. I truly cannot imagine going through this process without Anna. She was integral to our birth team.

I'd also highly recommend her for postpartum care! After birth, she set us up with lactation support, came to our home to watch our baby while I rested, helped prepare nutritious snacks, and assisted with household chores. I looked forward to her visits every week, and I felt so supported in the days immediately following birth.

Lisa Vitale

1/6/2023

Choosing to have Anna as my post partum doula was one of the best pregnancy decisions I made.  Having her there to support and guide me after birth was an absolute blessing.  

Janna Brantley

11/28/2022

We decided to hire a postpartum doula for after the birth of our second baby because I definitely struggled postpartum after we had our first baby. Because I don't have family that lives close by, I wanted someone that could be there for support while my husband was at work so that I could shower, eat, drink water, just the basic life things that we take for granted until we have a tiny human that relies on us 24/7. 

From the very first conversation with Anna, she was so understanding and helped me think through what I envisioned a positive postpartum expderience to be. And once our little one arrived, she brought that positive postpartum experience to life. She was so pleasant, always. She knew the things that I needed before I even knew that I needed them, and I truly believe that she is the reason that I had such a wonderful postpartum experience this time around. 

I highly recommend Anna, as she just has a calm and friendly demeanor about her, and she was the perfect support person for my postpartum period. 

Lacey Ramirez

11/15/2022

I'm so glad I had Anna as part of my birth team! When I chose Anna as my doula, I had just moved to St. Louis, and she provided so many helpful local resources to help me navigate the rest of my pregnancy, birth, and postpartum in an unfamiliar place. As a doula, I can affirm that Anna is knowledgeable and experienced in supporting myself and others through our birthing journeys. But most importantly, she is calm, empathetic, and kind, and she made it feel like I had another friend on my support team!

Laura Jo Hess

11/9/2022

Anna was fabulous. She was such a great support during my pregnancy and helped me understand what things I could control even though, inherently, nothing was in my control. She showed up the hospital with a bag of treats to support me and my partner in labor. The post-partum support she provided was truly priceless, and I don't think I would have made it through those first few months without her.

Meredith

11/7/2022

As first time expecting parents we were interested in hiring a doula to be apart of our care team. We felt lost when it came to birth and wanted an expert to help guide us through the process with more time and attention than an OB could offer.

After meeting Anna we knew she was the one for us. We took her child birth education class and hired her as our doula as well. The class was so helpful and educational on evidence based birth. Anna made several trips to our home to drop off books and to help us learn and practice techniques and positions for birth.

When the big day came she was by our side guiding us through the experience and helping us navigate unexpected situations. While things didn’t go exactly as planned, we felt supported and educated to make decisions throughout the process that were best for us.

We would absolutely recommend Anna to be apart of your birth team and would use her again on ours. We appreciate you!!!

Emily Basler

10/18/2022

Hiring Anna as our Doula was the BEST decision that my husband and I made. From the very first meeting with Anna I knew, without a doubt, she was exactly what I was hoping to find in a Doula. She was kind, she listened, she was so knowledgable, and most importantly, she advocated for me! She knew what I wanted and was hoping for with my birth experience and made sure I was happy throughout the whole process. I cannot say enough good things about my experience. Not only did she give prenatal care, but also postpartum care. My third and final pregnancy & delivery was such a wonderful experience and Anna played a huge part in that.

Erica Heffner

9/16/2022

Hiring Anna for the birth of my second child was the absolute best decision I could have made! I had a lot of anxiety and fear throughout my pregnancy relating back to the birth of my first child. My goal was for this birth to be easier and more enjoyable. I began researching how I could achieve that and came across many suggestions of hiring a doula. I had never considered a doula and was overwhelmed by all of the positive stories I read online. I began researching doulas near me and came across Anna. Her warmth and compassion shined through from the very beginning and I knew that I wanted her to be a part of my birthing team. We selected her Ultimate Empowerment Package and it was SO worth it!

Even though I had given birth before, the childbirth education class was extremely informative! It taught us many different comfort measures that we could utilize and took a lot of my fears away. It also gave us the opportunity to start building a relationship with Anna early on. She met with us several times upfront to prepare. During the birth, she was compassionate, supportive and my biggest advocate. She is extremely strong and the most calming presence all at once, which is exactly what I needed. There is one moment in particular I will never forget when she found the perfect words to support me in an overwhelming moment where I needed to make a decision. I know that moment changed my birth story for the better and I am so grateful for it. The postpartum work she did was so incredibly helpful, from cleaning to making delicious meals. She also introduced me to the most wonderful lactation consultant and speech therapist who found and relieved a tongue tie issue for my son. Thinking back on the day I gave birth, I cannot help but smile and I know it is largely due to the support of Anna. I cannot recommend Anna enough- she truly is the best there is!

Emma Wilson

6/14/2022

Anna is AMAZING. We hired her to join us for the birth of our 3rd child, I just wish I could go back in time and hire her for our first two as well. She is the most kind, compassionate, knowledgeable person and was an incredible advocate for me in my birthing and parenting journey. I had my daughter via c-section, and I am forever grateful that Anna was there to make sure I was taken care of and that all of my needs were met and my birth plan was listened to, even though it ended up being a bit of an emergency birth. We hired her for postpartum support as well, which was invaluable. She helped with food, was incredible with calming our baby when I needed time alone or with our toddler, and I cannot emphasize enough what an incredible person she is to have in a home environment. I struggled with post-partum anxiety and she was my rock. I will never be able to say enough about how wonderful Anna is, and I can only wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone who is looking.

Katie

5/31/2022

Anna was an integral part of our support team throughout pregnancy and birth. She is calm and kind and hugely supportive of your birth choices. She helped me navigate the decision to switch doctors at the end of my 2nd trimester. I ended up switching to an OB she recommended and it dramatically improved my prenatal care and my birth experience. Because of her support, we were prepared and confident throughout labor and birth. Her many comfort measures and pain management strategies helped me get through nearly 5 hours of pushing with an epidural that was wearing off. I couldn't have done it without her!

Ellen

1/26/2022

My wife and I loved working with Anna to prepare for the birth of our first child. She came to our home to deliver the birth workshop and then was available via phone and email all the way through our birth, even though we weren't able to have her present for the birth. The course was incredibly helpful; she went at our pace and focused in on the areas where we felt we needed the most support. She was able to help me process my feelings leading up to the birth. As a result, I had a better idea of what to expect and was able to advocate for a birth that felt empowering. I absolutely would recommend working with Anna in any capacity before your birth!

Michelle Mathis

1/20/2022

Anna was wonderful.  Her calming presence was a breath of fresh air for this anxious mama!  She provided resources for everything, from informing me of the super helpful Evidence Based Birth podcast to providing me with physical therapy contacts postpartum.  When I asked for something during the birthing process, she knew exactly how to help.  Mint cloths and candlelit rooms were just a couple ways she brought solace during particularly difficult moments.  So thankful to have met and worked with Anna-such a gem!

Carolyn Kelly

12/28/2021

We loved having Anna as a part of our birth team. Even though I ended up having a c-section, it was wonderful to have Anna there as a part of my birth experience. She was able to stay with me during the procedure while my husband was with our daughter, and she took some first photos of my baby, which I'll treasure forever. Anna helped me to process the challenges of my pregnancy and to reframe my pregnancy and birth experience in a positive way. I loved chatting with her during our meetings and loved the insight and expertise she brought to my journey. She even set me up to have a very comforting postpartum and helped me to improve my babywearing skills! I am so glad to have had the opportunity to use Anna as a resource during my second pregnancy/birth. My family loved working with her! I highly recommend.

Megan Vaninger

12/11/2021

Anna was the perfect doula for my husband and I for the pregnancy and birth of our first child. She helped us educate ourselves about the birth process so we could make informed decisions about the kind of birth we hoped to have. Her knowledge and education helped us make some tough decisions that we may have not otherwise. Those tough decisions shaped our birth experience and we are so thankful we had Anna to guide us. Anna was unconditionally supportive during pregnancy, birth, and the post partum period. Her calm presence helped us to stay calm and guided us the whole way. Anna's support she's provided afterwards has been so beneficial in the post partum period, she is always willing to step in wherever needed. We are thankful for the continued relationship that we have with Anna and highly recommend her to anyone searching for a doula for birth and/or post partum care. 

Katie Holzer

10/26/2021

I wish every mom had the opportunity to be supported by someone like Anna during the postpartum period. I reached out to Anna during my maternity leave with our 2nd son. I wanted to be very intentional about this time. Anna was such a wonderful, caring and gentle presence. She was eager to help in any way, but some of my favorite moments were when we would just sit and chat about motherhood and postpartum. I’m so grateful to her for helping to make this time full of joy, love and supportive care for me and my son. I would recommend her services to any family.

Tanya Koelker

9/13/2021

Anna was an essential piece to my birth story! Her calm, gentle and kind approach to not only birth, but life, was absolutely what I needed to bring my daughter into the world. Anna has a wealth of knowledge and connections to others to optimize the birth experience and support you in the journey. She made me feel heard, understood and seen each and every single time we interacted! The support she gave to me and my husband truly is invaluable and I cannot imagine this experience without her! She is incredible and a one of a kind person and I am so lucky she was there to help create the most amazing environment to bring my baby into. 

Darlene

6/25/2021

Anna was great, and a much needed support during our first pregnancy and birth! She provided us with so many resources and knowledge and just made herself available to us. She always wanted to support what we wanted and did not push any personal beliefs about the birthing process on us. During the labor, she provided encouragement, a calming atmosphere, and even physical support throughout an entire night! My OB even said how impressed she was by her, taking care of not only me but my husband during the birth. We highly recommend her expertise and care for anyone looking to partner with a doula!

Patricia Arnold

6/11/2021

Beyond highly recommend. Anna was an amazing support through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. She incorporated both basic and unique birth information into prenatal visits and helped us feel like we were really set up for success in all aspects of this life transition. I loved her wide knowledge about Spinning Babies, hypnobirthing techniques, and comfort measures. I’ll never forget when she brought me a rainbow inflatable pillow at the perfect moment while I was in early labor in the bathtub- I didn’t even know those things existed but she did and she was prepared with it and it really helped me relax more! Just one example of her timely support. Her calming presence helped me navigate normal postpartum challenges with more ease too. Again, highly recommend.

Benjamin Arnold

6/11/2021

Anna is Amazing! She is so caring and knowledgeable. She was a great source of peace and guidance throughout my wife's pregnancy and laboring journey. We love Anna very much!

Vanessa Davis

11/8/2020

There are so many positive things I can say about Anna! She is very knowledgeable and gave us very reliable and narrowed down resources. She showed my husband and I techniques we could use during pregnancy and labor. Knowing she was always a text away when I had any concerns or just needed to talk was very reassuring. She offered a lot of emotional support. My husband works 14 hours during the day and I felt very nervous about being able to be reach him when the time came. Anna made sure to talk me through those feelings and always checked in. When I had questions she always went over the pros and cons of anything and also confirmed things I wasn’t sure about. Anna also was very supportive of my birth plan and ultimately when things completely changed during labor and how I chose to bring my son into the world. During early labor I was doubting that what I was feeling were actually contractions. She told me they were and ended up talking me through them over the phone since I was alone during that time. During labor she was gently spoken and calm which helped tremendously. She always gave good recommendations and made sure to get my husband involved and then took over when he needed sleep. During labor my husband and I felt safe and trusted her. When I ultimately ended up choosing to have a c section she was very supportive and nonjudgmental. Her being there during it was essential to help calm me when my husband wasn’t allowed in the room yet. Anna was able to step in that supportive role to me so that my husband could be with our son once he was born. She also was able to take pictures so my husband and I can forever have those beautiful memories! Anna truly has a passion for being a doula and it comes out through her work! I would highly recommend Anna no matter your birth preferences! Even my OB said she was a wonderful doula! Thank you so much Anna for being such an amazing human being which makes you an outstanding doula!

Hayley Racheter

10/22/2020

Since I moved to a new state at the beginning of the COVID pandemic, I was set up for a very lonely pregnancy because I didn't know anyone in my new area and all social gatherings were canceled. To make matters worse, my mother passed away when I was very young and none of my siblings have children. I didn't have many resources to lean on for wisdom or support during such a special, unknown, and, honestly, a scary time for me. What got me through my pregnancy without being discouraged or feeling scared and inadequate was Anna Sutkowski's support! Although Anna lived in a different state and became my "over-the-phone doula", this never got in the way of her job; I never felt alone on my journey. She was there for me day and night, and she answered all the questions that I had without delay. A perfect example of how amazing and helpful Anna was for me was the day that my doctor told me that I was going to be induced. I was so upset that I would not be able to go into labor naturally and was slightly confused as to why I needed to be induced in the first place. I contacted Anna immediately so that she could explain to me my situation as well as help me process whether being induced was the best route for me. Anna responded instantly to my text message and helped me process my options. Throughout my labor and way after giving birth, Anna was my constant companion who helped me cope with the stress of breast feeding, teaching me techniques about how to relieve engorgement and sending me a multitude of videos of how to have more successful latching and burping. I am thoughouly convinced that Anna played a vital role in helping me avoid postpartum depression! All in all, I HIGHLY recommend Anna to be anyone's doula, whether in person or even over the phone. She is not only very professional and informative, but she works with you in a way that makes pregnancy challenges a breeze and turns stressful situations into positive experiences. 

Danielle

9/23/2020

Working with Anna is such a pleasure! We can't say enough good things about this woman. She is knowledgeable, accepting, supportive and everything you could possibly hope for in a doula.

I felt completely safe and at ease with her by my side. She was the perfect balance of firm and soft when it came to  both encouragement and physical techniques. She reminded me to eat and drink in a way that I never felt pestered but lovingly looked after.

No matter what I requested to help with the pain she obliged happily. I was worried about being self conscious during labor but Anna was so kind, I never felt judged or insecure. Instead, I felt lifted up and empowered. 

My husband was grateful to have her there as well. I needed counter pressure with every contraction and with a 17 hour long labor it was nice to have someone to tag team and offer him support as well.

We would recommend Anna to anyone and everyone. You will feel so supported and safe with her by your side. I truly believe having her at our birth was key to my being able to follow through with a natural unmedicated birth.

After all is said and done, we felt we had a new close friend, not just a doula. If you are looking for a doula who will honor, echo and support your wishes - Anna is your lady!

Sandy

8/14/2020

Anna was an absolute joy to work with. Her clam demeanor always brought me peace about the upcoming birth. I got to work with Anna during the strange time of the COVID-19 pandemic. She was completely open to working in different ways to suit the times and was always ready to brainstorm to ensure safety during our meetings. She made herself available via text, call, and email. Anna was very responsive when I would reach out pre-birth and was always super supportive. Anna did a great job of making sure to let my husband be my main support during labor and birth, but also knowing when and where to step in and help. She quickly adapted to the flow of my labor when she arrived and started making helpful suggestions within minutes. Many items that we discussed beforehand were used and she brought plenty of helpful additional ideas. She was aware of my birth plan and was very respectful and helped me think through things as we started moving through unexpected changes. I am extremely glad we had Anna with us for our birth. If we ever decide to have another child, I would look forward to working with her again.

Leah Young

7/11/2020

Having my first baby during the COVID-19 pandemic was not ideal. Having Anna as my doula was the best decision I made during my pregnancy. When I was uncertain of a decision she would help me weigh the pros and cons and feel good about it. She was always there via text or phone call when I had a question or just needed to talk. During our doula sessions the first thing she would ask was how my husband and I were doing mentally, as a couple and as individuals. Our sessions weren't strictly about me but also about my husband as well, if he had any questions, how he could support me, ect. Because of our sessions we felt really confident about giving birth. During labor she was there for us to help couch us through each contraction. Because of the coronavirus I was only allowed to have one person in the hospital with me so obviously I had my husband there, but Anna was there virtually, constantly checking in (without being annoying). At one point during birth I was crying uncontrollably, the nurses were only focused on the medical stuff and just telling me not to cry. My husband called Anna and without needing to be told what I needed from her she started talking to me and calming me down, encouraging me, and suggested things that my husband could do to help me as well.

After giving birth she met with my husband and I to help process the birth and life after birth. We really liked this because we really didn't know what to think about our birth story. Helping us process life after birth was great because we didn't know what to expect and to know that we had someone to talk to and who would listen was really refreshing. She would not give her opinion or tell you how to do something unless you asked for it. I am truly extremely grateful for her, without her I honestly don't think I could have done it.

Laura

4/21/2020

Anna was a fantastic doula for us as we welcomed our third child into the world. I have done childbirth differently with all three and without a doubt, my third, and last, was the best experience and that was largely due to Anna being a part of it. She was incredibly caring and took time to know us as a family prior to the birth so she was ready to be there for us in exactly the way we needed when the time came. She was ready for each situation we encountered with a steady voice or hand. She advocated for us with the doctors when I couldn’t articulate what I needed or wanted. She was a calming presence for my husband when he needed that as well. It couldn’t have gone more smoothly and I’m very grateful to have had Anna with us through it all. I give her the highest recommendation. She will make a huge positive difference in your birth experience.