Testimonial for Keli Schurman-Darby, CD, CPD, C-FSD, CLE, CBE,CDD from Sisi

Testimonial for Keli Schurman-Darby, CD, CPD, C-FSD, CLE, CBE,CDD

Keli was my birth doula. From our first call in January 2025 to the birth of our son in July 2025 and beyond to the postpartum period, she has provided invaluable support in both big ways and small. While interviewing doulas, we were immediately struck by her warmth, knowledge, inclusivity, and non-judgmental nature. Throughout my pregnancy and even now (eight weeks after our son's birth), she has sent us countless resources and referrals and checked in about everyone's well-being.

Originally, I was aiming for a low-intervention vaginal birth, but everything went sideways when a long induction followed by stalled labor resulted in an unplanned C-section. However, I didn't experience the birth as traumatic and don't regret the way things went, largely due to the support we got from our care team – and Keli was a huge part of that.

During our hospital stay, she helped us think through our care options, ask questions of the various providers who cycled in and out of the room, and ensure that we had informed consent for every decision, including asking everyone to leave so my husband and I could have some time alone to discuss.

After I made the decision to have a C-section, she stayed by my side the entire time in the OR and narrated everything that was happening, including the clamping of the cord, weighing of the baby, etc. This means that I was never alone, even when my husband went to the weighing table with the doctors. One of my fondest and most satisfying memories is seeing Keli hold our son after 24+ hours of labor.

Last but not least, Keli is just a good person. The care and empathy she has for her clients always shines through, AND she's funny and fun to be around – which is key for those long hours at the hospital.

All in all, hiring Keli as our doula was one of the best decisions we made during my pregnancy.

-Sisi

September 07, 2025