Practitioners:
Sarah Grace, RCST, SEP
Cindy Barnum, LMT, NCBTMB, CD (DONA)
To connect with us, please call the office at (805) 633-9230 or email support@somaticsanctuary.com
“When a woman accesses her true power, she can access intuitively the innate wisdom and raw animal instincts within that know how to birth.”
– Sarah Grace
The term doula refers to a non-medical support person who assists a woman before, during and after childbirth. She takes on a support role for the birthing mother as well as her partner and/or family by providing continuous physical assistance, emotional support and information.
Numerous studies have shown that with support from a doula during labor:
- Labor is shorter with fewer complications
- There is a reduced need for induction, interventions, pain medications and/or procedures
- Both mother and baby are healthier
- Babies breastfeed more easily
Specifically, studies have shown that having a doula present during labor results in:
- 60% reduction in epidural requests
- 50% reduction in Cesarean rate
- 25% shorter labour
- 40% reduction in the use of Pitocin
- 40% reduction in forceps delivery
- 30% reduction in analgesia use
(Information obtained from Mothering the Mother: How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter, Easier and Healthier Birth – Klaus, Kennell, and Klaus (1993))
The Doula’s Role is to:
- Meet with the expecting mom (and dad/partner if desired) before, during and after the birth to ensure a healthy attachment
- Stay with the birthing mother throughout labor, from the moment she is called until hours after birth.
- Provide continuous emotional support, and physical comfort measures throughout labor.
- Support the entire family by providing information needed to make informed decisions.
- Assist the birthing woman and her family in preparing for and carrying out her desired birth plan.
- Fully understand and have studied the physiology of birth, as well as the potential emotional impact.
- Hold and understand the emotional needs of the woman in labor as well as her partner’s.
- Hold space for the woman’s partner to participate at his/her comfort level.
- Facilitate communication between the laboring woman, her partner and her clinical care providers be it a home or hospital birth.
- Recognize and hold the sanctity of the birth experience as a rite of passage that the mother and baby will remember for life.
- Hold a nurturing and protective presence during the time the birthing woman (and her partner/family) reflects back on her memory of the birth experience.
Our Doula
Sarah has been serving as a doula for more than a decade, supporting both home and hospital births. With Sarah’s support you have both a fierce ally at your side at all times as well as a compassionate, kind guide who will help you in welcoming your little one into the world. She creates a positive and empowering space for the innate wisdom of birth to unfold in both mom’s and baby’s bodies, working together in harmony.
In the early weeks, we come to you and your family for home visits.
You deserve the support to a thriving pregnancy, healthy baby, and healthy bonding. Its never to late to receive true support!
“Sarah’s kind, compassionate, and gentle disposition made me feel comfortable from our initial meeting. She exceeded all or our expectations, both with her physical and inner-strength as she tirelessly attended to my every need. She helped relieve excruciating back labor pains with constant counter-pressure and she never left me alone for one minute, allowing my partner to rest up for the deliver of our son. She even stayed hours after the birth ensuring that I had eaten and she even helped my newborn learn how to nurse. She was also in contact with us several days after the birth providing homeopathic care along with emotional support & release for myself, partner, and baby. Ultimately, Sarah made our dream birth a reality – and for that we are eternally grateful.”
– Tara Burk, School Teacher
“Sarah’s help before and after the birth of our son was so supportive for our family. I was grateful that although we were far away, that she was available on Skype and phone sessions. I believe it was through Sarah’s love and wisdom that our son was able to release of lot of birth trauma from a C-Section. Also, the support that she gave, allowed me to relax and be present for my son on deeper levels. Sarah has a softness that is so soothing and along with her strength and knowledge she is a perfect expression of Love!”
– Marla Mervis-Hartmann
Massage Practitioner
Because Moms, Babies and New Families need a lot of support, we offer many ways to nurture you during this precious time. Click here to learn about more ways to Support Moms, Babies & New Families during this sensitive transition time.