Testimonial for Raya Sagdejeva
Having Raya to support us before, during and after our baby's birth was one of the best decision we made during our pregnancy and birth of our son!
Her support included a virtual meet and greet, two 3-hour pre-natal sessions in the months leading up (probably longer than she normally does), attention, care and guidance during labor from the time contractions really got going to an hour or so after birth (more about this below), and a post natal visit with lactation support (ended up being more like a much needed therapy session for me!).
Not only was her time incredibly valuable to us, but the gentle and direct guidance she offered helped my partner and I feel more confident going into giving birth. No matter how many books you read or classes you take - it can all go out the window while in labor. My partner and I have reflected on how much it helped him have someone who knew our birth plan and kept us and the hospital staff on course, giving gently suggestions based on our preferences. During labor she was there to get water, provide aroma therapy, give massages, remind me to breath, cheer me on, suggest different positions and soothing techniques. She remained calm, steadfast and focused throughout the whole experience.
Post-partum, she came about two weeks after and talked through how we were feeling, gave lactation support, advised on breathing exercises I could do to start connecting with my core and pelvic floor, and even stayed to change a diaper which ended up being a 20 minute ordeal!!
I can't even truly express how meaningful it was to have her and how supported we felt. We also had a great team of nurses, midwives and OB's at Duke Regional which made for a nice experience as a whole.
If you are able to afford having a doula, I would highly recommend having one. We found that Raya was most accommodating to a scale for pricing, though we didn't take her up on it. She was worth every penny and then some!
-Sarah M
April 11, 2022
Raya Sagdejeva
The Durham Doula
Birth Fee: $700 to $1250
Postpartum Rate: $25 to $40
