Ali Sugarman
Certified Birth Doula,
Postpartum Doula,
& Holistic Practitioner
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I believe supporting individuals 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. I became interested in my own reproductive health, as well as diving into Divine Feminine work and soon thereafter, 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 bring awareness to the natural and intuitive processes of labor and 4th trimester, as well as mindfulness and present moment awareness to the physical body during this special time.
What are my hobbies and interests outside of birth?
I reside in the Mountains of Gilpin County, Colorado and a lot of my time is spent out in nature. I am a big fan of hiking , and simply BEING with the trees. In the winter months, I enjoy making macrame plant hangers, reading, and spending time with my husband, our sweet kitty, and two dogs. My biggest passion other than birth work is further developing a relationship with myself. To do this, I meditate daily, exercise, dance, and allow myself to rest/indulge in sweet treats. Self-care is extremely important to me, which is why I love giving that time to my clients. Things I enjoy most in life are seeing live music, eating good food, being a snuggle bug, and plants.
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 postures 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.
