Testimonial for Stephanie Sauer Pasternak, CD(DONA), CLC
Working with Stephanie was life changing. Before meeting her, my husband and I weren't sure about whether or not to hire a doula. Knowing that we wanted to have a successful home birth, we interviewed several doulas as I neared the last weeks of my pregnancy. Our connection with Stephanie was instantaneous and we think that this is a testament to her warmth, experience, and spirit. It felt as if were already long time friends. What surprised us the most was the ways in which she prepared both of us for this experience. Birth coaches are essential not only for the pregnant person, but also for their partner. Our pre-labor sessions with Stephanie were treasured moments where we could truly focus on the arrival of our baby. They helped to create a stronger sense of intimacy between us, which ultimately translated into how we brought our daughter into this world. Stephanie is a wealth of information and helps you focus on what is really critical. She says from the beginning that her role is to take on your stresses so that you don't have to and surprisingly, it works. We left every pre-labor session with Stephanie with a renewed sense of energy and excitement as well as with steps to help prepare us for birth. Stephanie was ALWAYS available and responsive to our calls, texts, and emails and was the first to arrive on the day I gave birth, transforming our space into a Zen retreat. Her and my husband were a rockstar team and that was because of the trust that was carefully established. After my delivery, which she was by my side for the entire time, she stayed with us for several hours to ensure that our new family of three felt at ease. We were in constant communication for days afterwards, and during my post-partum visit, she offered to speak with some of our family members whose nervousness about my breastfeeding had been causing us some stress. Don't hesitate to hire her!
-Elise and Ivan
March 18, 2019
Stephanie Sauer Pasternak, CD(DONA), CLC
Bergen Doula - Birth Doula & Lactation Counseling
Birth Fee: $1950 to $3500
