Mariel Barnesky

6/17/2024

Sari was amazing! She provided me and my partner with guidance, support, and a calm energy and steady presence. She had lots of great resources for us before the birth; she came and guided us in early labor, and supported us with activities to encourage labor in what was turning out to be a very overdue pregnancy. I credit Sari with helping me to avoid a scheduled induction, since with her support and guidance, I ended up being in active labor right before a scheduled induction would have had to happen. I was very soothed to know that my partner and support person had a support person in our doula - and so did I. On top of everything else, Sari ended up taking some really amazing photos and videos of the birth that are absolutely priceless. THANK YOU!! 

Lauren Otto Paglione

4/26/2022

For me, I feel the most helpful parts of Sari's doula support we're the in depth conversations in the months leading up to the birth and having the additional physical/emotional support during labor.  The periodic check-ins helped me to mentally prepare, and the in person support was calming and comforting in the delivery room.

Going into the birth, my biggest anxiety was lack of control [over my body]. Being able to talk through things ahead of time, ask questions, etc, let me feel like I at least had knowledge of what was going to happen, even if I couldn't control it. I was also afraid of the pain and was expecting to have an epidural, but having the added support and during labor helped me to manage the pain much longer than I had anticipated being able to.

I would absolutely recommend utilizing a doula. Not only does it provide additional support for the birthing parent, but having a doula also supports the non-birthing parent or partner. Working with a doula is so much more personal than attending a birthing class, and really makes the most out of your time. I would recommend Sari not just because she is extremely knowledgeable and well-prepared, but because she is gental, caring, and easy to get along with. Nothing passes those hours of contractions faster than good conversation!

After ending our first or second Zoom meeting with Sari, my husband looked at me and asked "seriously, why doesn't everyone have a doula?!"

Kathryn Browne-Lorcher

4/22/2022

The most helpful part of having Sari as our doula? Where do I start?! From the moment she joined our team early on in the pregnancy, Sari was just amazing. Her friendliness, warmth, and passion for helping people through this process shown through at every step of the way. Any time my husband or I had a question, she was always quick to share helpful, thoughtful, and researched information. We never once felt judged for any of the decisions we made, including epidural vs. natural, delivering at a hospital, birthing center, or at home, doctor vs midwife, etc. She was always there to schedule a phone or video call when needed, with some in-person meetings along the way. Having Sari in the delivery room brought such comfort and reassurance, and we're so grateful to have had her as a part of the entire process.

My biggest fear about birth was that I wouldn't understand what was going on, and feel frozen when given a decision. Having Sari there for me in the months and moments leading up to the birth helped immensely, as she talked me through what to expect, different options, and the pros and cons of each.

My doula *is* a best friend! I would highly recommend having Sari for a doula for so very many reasons, but above all for how much she cares. Her heart is fully in her work, and you can feel it coming through with each interaction.