Sarah and I didn't meet until the day my daughter was born. She was called by someone (I honestly don't remember who -- it's a blur) to assist after my daughter needed to go to hospital a few hours after our home birth. My daughter was pretty healthy, but very small. I had her at home because of my hatred of hospitals, and getting there did nothing to change my mind. Sarah arrived shortly, though, and completely had my back with my questions for the doctors and staff regarding the procedures they were planning for my kid. It is incredibly helpful to have not one, not two, but THREE mamas advocating for a baby (my birth doula was also there).
During our nearly week-long NICU stay, Sarah visited several times. My husband and I were just there the ENTIRE time, so it was not only nice to have a visitor, but one who was really trying to help me ease in to motherhood, when I found the hospital environment to be so traumatic.
After we went home, Sarah visited us often. She helped me learn to properly nurse, when I had nobody in the Prentice NICU to do so. In the course of all of this, we became great friends and learned each other's stories. I'm not sure if I would have done so well in the first few months of my daughter's life if I didn't have Sarah to lean upon.
-Emma Grace Ketner
December 17, 2013
Life Span Doula Services
Birth Fee: $1500 to $3000
Postpartum Rate: $60 to $75