Ali Sugarman
Certified Birth Doula,
Postpartum Doula,
& Holistic Practitioner
I believe that women supporting other women through labor and the 4th trimester is essential for the emotional, physical, and spiritual processes of childbirth and early parenthood.
What is a Doula?
The word "Doula" refers to the Greek meaning, "woman who serves". Doulas assist individuals and their partners through pregnancy, labor, childbirth, and the postpartum period. There are four types of support:
​
​
About me
​
​
​
After completing my BA in Psychology at the University of Kentucky, I found my love for holistic and alternative medicine. I fell in love with these modalities because I believe in and had experienced the mind-body-spirit connection. Soon after, I found that working with women was one of my greatest wishes and passions. After completing my training in reiki, reflexology, and yoga, I started my path as a birth and postpartum doula. As a society, we have lost the intuitive connection with our bodies, and mainstream media is full of distorted birth images and scenes where having a baby is made to be a tremendously horrible medical event. As a doula, I am bringing awareness to the natural and intuitive processes of labor and 4th trimester, as well as bringing mindfulness and present moment awareness to the physical body during this special time.
​
What I think about pain:
Pain can be excruciating, but ultimately, it is just sensation. Pain in the birthing room (whether in the hospital, your kitchen, living room, or in transit) is there to encourage baby out of the uterus and into the world. Because of my holistic background, I encourage managing pain through awareness, but ultimately support any birth YOU choose. Epidural, induced, cesarean section... all birth is birth, and all birth is beautiful.
​
​
​
​
.jpg)
Services
Birth Doula
All of my clients receive a free consultation, two prenatal visits, presence during labor, and support during the first couple postnatal hours. I provide 24/7 support via email or phone, and also provide informational handouts on subjects of your interest.
​
​
​
Postpartum Doula
Providing support after the new family has returned home from the hospital (or settled in if having a home-birth) is my main duty as a postpartum doula. Proper nutrition and emotional support is KEY to the fourth trimester.
Holistic Services
I provide Reflexology, Reiki, and Prenatal yoga to help moms relax during pregnancy, and prepare for labor. Reflexology is shown to progress labor and Reiki is known to relax the nervous system which in turn diminishes fear and anxiety. Prenatal yoga is a great way to prepare the body for labor by strengthening muscles used during birth and by using the breath to integrate mind, body, and spirit. To learn more, click here.
